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Selena Gomez has finally weighed in on long-running fan speculation about the noticeable changes in her speaking voice over the years.
The 33-year-old singer and actress addressed the topic directly during a candid Instagram Live on Tuesday, where she answered questions from fans in real time.
'Yeah, I've gotten this question a few times, the voice thing,' Gomez said as she read one fan's message aloud, according to Page Six.
The Rare Beauty founder appeared momentarily hesitant before continuing. 'There's no excuse, I don't really care,' she added, striking a blunt and unfiltered tone. 'I think my point is, is that sometimes things happen.'
Gomez went on to explain that she occasionally experiences physical discomfort that affects how she sounds. 'I get weird. My throat kind of swells inside sometimes. That's all. That's good,' she said, before thanking fans for their honesty and support during the livestream. 'I'm glad y'all are being real with me on the Live. I appreciate it though, for real.'
While Gomez did not directly link the changes in her voice to any specific medical condition, she has been open for years about her ongoing health struggles, including her battle with lupus.
Selena Gomez has finally weighed in on long-running fan speculation about the noticeable changes in her speaking voice over the years
The singer revealed in 2015 that she had been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease and later disclosed that she underwent chemotherapy as part of her treatment.
Lupus causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue and can lead to inflammation throughout the body.
According to medical experts, lupus affects approximately one in 10,000 people, with women accounting for around 90 percent of cases.
Patients often experience flare-ups that can include joint pain, extreme fatigue, rashes and inflammation that may last weeks or longer.
According to Healthline, lupus can also cause vocal fatigue, hoarseness due to inflammation of the vocal cords or laryngeal tissues, altered vocal quality and reduced vocal intensity.
These changes can be temporary or chronic. Selena has yet to comment on if lupus has affected her voice.
In a viral video, which has surpassed 1.9 million views earlier this year, one TikTok user compiled footage of Gomez over years to showcase the stark difference in how she talks.
The first clip in the recording showed Gomez, who was just a teenager, at the time, excitedly talking about wanting to guest star on Gossip Girl someday.
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The 33-year-old singer and actress addressed the topic directly during a candid Instagram Live on Tuesday, where she answered questions from fans in real time
'Yeah, I've gotten this question a few times, the voice thing,' Gomez said as she read one fan's message aloud, according to Page Six; seen in 2025
As she spoke, the performer was very expressive and animated as she listed all the reasons she loved the CW drama, which starred Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.
During the post-rehab appearance, there was a shift in her speaking voice, most likely from nerves as she spoke candidly about her physical and emotional health issues.
'In 2014 this stage was actually the first time I was authentically 100 percent honest with all of you,' she said. 'I think it's safe to say most of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not.'
She continued: 'I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside and I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.'
At the time, she had checked into a treatment facility back to focus on her mental health after canceling the 34 remaining shows on her Revival world tour.
Gomez first burst onto TV screens, at age 10, as Gianna on Barney & Friends (seen above) back in 2002
In a viral video, which has surpassed 1.9 million views earlier this year, one TikTok user compiled footage of Gomez over years to showcase the stark difference in how she talks
The next clip fast forwarded to 2024 as Gomez sat down for an interview with young fashion reporter, Taylen Biggs, 11.
The Emilia Pérez star seemed a lot less exuberant than when she was a rising star as she bashfully spoke about being a public figure.
'I think people probably know to much about me,' she said while using her left hand to cover part of her face. 'I guess I had to get use to this idea that my life isn't always going to be just me. Sometimes it comes with a lot of noise.'
Another clip that highlighted the distinct contrast in Gomez's speaking voice over the years was during a recent interview with Access Hollywood at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.
The next video showed her delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech, at age 24, about depression at the American Music Awards in 2016.
Some speculated that her change in voice could be 'a combination of her medication and lupus' or pushing through anxiety
The interview, which took place in January, worried her fans as many felt she looked 'out of it' and was slurring her words.
'It looks like it's painful for her to talk at the end clip,' one TikTok user commented.
Some speculated that the change in voice could be 'a combination of her medication and lupus' or pushing through anxiety.
'I've had two kidney transplants and I have an ostomy bag and I probably take similar medications to Selena,' one said in her defense. 'I could not imagine being on a red carpet with all those flashing lights and loud noises. It's super overwhelming just doing everyday tasks in bright sunlight when your on transplant medications, let alone a crazy red carpet event.'
Another commented: 'I have an autoimmune disease that sometimes makes my brain fog up a bit. Selena is doing the best to live a normal life with her condition. These kind of illnesses go wild when you pass 30 years so it must be harder now to manage.'
