Selena Gomez has spent most of her life in the spotlight since first bursting onto TV screens, at age 10, as Gianna on Barney & Friends back in 2002. 

Since rising to fame as a outspoken and sarcastic high schooler on Disney Channel’s hit sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, the teen pop sensation has evolved into one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses. 

In addition to earning multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations over her career, the former Disney darling became a billionaire in September 2024.

While fans have flocked to celebrate her achievements and milestones over the past year, which also included getting engaged to producer Benny Blanco, many social media users have expressed concern over the dramatic change in her voice.

Longtime fans of the Rare Beauty founder pointed out that her tone while speaking has dramatically changed from lively and full of life to monotone and sluggish. 

The shift in her voice became more noticeable this past award season during her red carpet interviews, particularly at the Golden Globes, and while presenting at the 97th Oscars. 

In a viral video, which has surpᴀssed 1.9 million views, one TikToker compiled footage of Gomez over years to showcase the stark difference in how she talks. 

Selena Gomez recently raised concern over the noticeable change in her speaking voice this award season; seen in 2025 at the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

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♬ Come & Get It – Selena Gomez

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.

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. 

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE Insiders reveal the REAL reason Selena Gomez decided to settle with Benny Blanco

The next video showed her delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech, at age 24, about depression at the American Music Awards in 2016.

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.  

The next clip fast forwarded to 2024 as Gomez sat down for an interview with young fashion reporter, Taylen Biggs, 11.

Gomez first burst onto TV screens, at age 10, as Gianna on Barney & Friends (seen above) back in 2002

Since rising to fame as a outspoken and sarcastic high schooler on Disney Channel’s hit sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, the teen pop sensation has evolved into one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses (pictured in 2012)

While fans have flocked to celebrate her achievements and milestones over the past year, which also included getting engaged to producer Benny Blanco , many social media users have expressed concern over the dramatic change in her voice; seen in 2013

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 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. 

In a viral video, which has surpᴀssed 1.9 million views, one TikToker compiled footage of Gomez over years to showcase the differences, kicking off with her as a bubbly teen

The next video showed her delivering a heartfelt acceptance speech, at age 24, at the American Music Awards in 2016 (seen above)

During an interview with young fashion reporter, Taylen Biggs, last year, Gomez 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

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 pᴀss 30 years so it must be harder now to manage.’ 

According to Healthline, lupus can ’cause inflammation and tissue damage’ to the vocal cords and lungs that causes a person’s voice to sound more hoarse or fatigued.

Another clip that highlighted the stark contrast in Gomez’s speaking voice over the years was during a recent interview with Access Hollywood at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards; seen in January 2025

Some speculated that the change in voice could be ‘a combination of her medication and lupus’ or pushing through anxiety

Others symptoms include a weak voice, sounding more breathy and difficulty in projecting.  

Others pointed out their own voices definitely changed from ’15 to 30.’

Previously, one Reddit user began a thread about Gomez’s changing voice, which they claimed sounded ‘super weird’ while appearing on Only Murders in the Building. 

‘I compared back to her Wizards of Waverly Place days and her voice sounds SO different! Just me or did anyone else notice this?’ they asked.

In response, someone replied: ‘I’ve been listening to the show while I’m working. I was wondering why she was mumbling. It sounded like she was trying to talk without opening her mouth like a ventriloquist.’ 

‘Some people say it’s related to a medical condition but idk about that. If that’s the case then I feel bad for letting it irritate me. It’s just so nasal and weird – kind of emotionless,’ another wrote.

Some speculated that her change in voice could be ‘a combination of her medication and lupus’ or pushing through anxiety

A third pointed out that Gomez seems to keep the corners of her mouth shut тιԍнтly and ‘curves them down while she talks.’ 

‘She needs to open her mouth more when she speaks so she doesn’t sound so irritating,’ they suggested. ‘Like I have a hard time believing the voice is not intentional, and I just want to know why anyone would talk like that on purpose.’ 

Back in 2019, Gomez, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, spoke about how lupus affects her. 

‘I have lupus and deal with kidney issues and high blood pressure so I deal with a lot of health issues and for me that’s when I really started noticing more of the body image stuff,’ she told Elle. 

Back in 2019, Gomez, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, also suffers from lupus,  bipolar disorder and SIBO

She continued: ‘No, [the lupus doesn’t affect my weight]; it’s the combination of all of it. It’s the medication I have to take for the rest of my life—it depends on even the month, to be honest. So for me, I really noticed when people started attacking me for that.’ 

‘In reality, that’s just my truth. I fluctuate. It depends what’s happening in my life. Right [it’s totally out of my control], and that got to me big time. I think for me, that really messed me up for a bit,’ she noted.

In addition to suffering from lupus, Gomez has been open about battling mental health issues, like bipolar disorder.

Last year, she also revealed she struggles with SEBO in her small intestine, which can affect her appearance when it flares up.

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which happens when ‘the pᴀssage of food and waste products in the digestive tract’ slows, ‘creating a breeding ground for bacteria,’ per the Mayo Clinic. 

The condition is usually caused by ‘surgery or disease,’ the clinic said, as ‘symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, and malnutrition.’