Not too long ago, I described to you why I view Selena Gomez as a role model. Well, Selena continues to live up to that title, setting an example for people all over the world. For years now, Selena Gomez has been vocal about her health struggles and the dangers of social media. In a recent interview, Gomez addressed this matter yet again.

In 2015, Gomez came forward in revealing she had been diagnosed with lupus. In a recent appearance in the Giving Back Generation podcast, created by her friend Raquelle Stevens, Gomez revealed the disease had a direct impact on her weight.

Instead of helping her cope with the situation and supporting her, Gomez revealed that as her health was worsening she started noticing more and more body shamers on social media. Gomez said: “I experienced [body-shaming] with my weight fluctuation for the first time. 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.”

The starlet went on by saying: “It’s the medication I have to take for the rest of my life — it depends on even the month, to be honest… I really noticed when people started attacking me for [my weight fluctuation]. In reality, that’s just my truth. I fluctuate. It depends on what’s happening in my life. That got to me big time. I think for me, that really messed me up for a bit.”

As a result of the hateful comments, Selena took a step back from social media to mute the body shamers and recover from the toxic impact they had on her.

This is such an important issue. Social media should be something fun; we should want to post and share our authentic lives with others. Under no circumstances, however, should it be a toxic environment. We should support others and encourage them to be healthy and live their best life. Why do we have to tear others apart?

Gomez explained: “I want people to have a good relationship with social media. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.” Selena Gomez should be able to live her life how she wants to, and her weight shouldn’t have any impact on that, especially as it is nobody’s business but hers.

Getty Images/ Entertainment/ Vivien Killilea