After announcing at the end of August that she’d be taking a break to focus on her health, Selena Gomez is back. She made her first appearance on Sunday night at the American Music Awards, EW reports. She had previously told People magazine in a statement, “As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways.†She added, “I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.†On Sunday night, Gomez won for Favorite Female Artist in the pop/ rock category, and she used her acceptance speech to speak candidly about her emotional health:
In 2014 this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically, 100 percent honest with all of you. I think it’s safe to say that all of you know my life whether I like it or not. I had to stop because I had everything and I was absolutely broken inside. 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. I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here [holds chest]. I’m not trying to get validation nor do I need it anymore. All I can say from the bottom of my heart is I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be able to share what I love every single day with people that I love. I have to say thank you so much to my fans because you guys are so damn loyal and I don’t know what I did to deserve you. If you are broken you do not have to stay broken. If that’s anything whether you respect me or not that’s one thing you should know about me. I care about people. Thank you so much for this. This is for you.
Watch her full acceptance speech below.