Local fans are in a tizzy over Selena Gomez’s latest social media update.
It seems that the past few days have been especially tumultuous for the 24-year-old US singer-actress, who is currently touring in support of her latest album Revival.
She embarked on her 80-date Revival Tour in May in Las Vegas, and the tour will end in December in Mexico.
Part of the tour includes her first-ever concert here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium tomorrow, followed by a meet-and-greet session.
But Singapore fans are now worried about whether the show will go on, and are also feverishly speculating if their idol plans to quit the tour – or music altogether.
The online drama started on Saturday night, a day after her 24th birthday.
Soon after performing in Jakarta, the first stop of the tour’s Asian leg, Gomez posted a cryptic message on Instagram, hinting that she had been dealing with some personal turmoil.
She wrote: “Tonight I felt extremely unauthentic, unconnected to both myself and my music.
“I’ve never really felt like my materials, wardrobe or video could define me. I act on a moment and fear something that hasn’t happened.
“I’m stagnant, I stay still and don’t just sit with myself first and ask, ‘Is this where I am, wholeheartedly?’. I’ve always told the truth, I’m always true to my word, I’ve shown who I am but I need to rethink some areas of my life creatively and personally. Had to get that out.
“Not being negative about anything I’ve done. I’m grateful for every single moment I get here – Indonesia you were LOUD and clearly inspiring. Love you so much.”
When contacted, Ms Shila Wijaya, head of communications for concert organiser Midas Promotions, told TNP that “the show here is proceeding as planned”.
She said: “With a local act (Gentle Bones) opening the show, we are pleased to say that it’s going to be a great night for all involved.”
Miss Titan Tyra, a 21-year-old student who produces videos on YouTube, told The New Paper: “As an online content creator, sometimes the people or brands I work with give me pointers on what to say or how to act. It takes away from my real personality.
“I think that might be what Selena means by feeling inauthentic – when other people are trying to define her identity and what she ‘should’ do.”
The 21-year-old won a pair of Category 1 concert tickets and a meet-and-greet pass through a Cornetto Singapore ice cream contest.
She added: “I was disappointed that she cancelled (her Singapore concert) in 2014 (to get treated for lupus), but I know Selena loves her fans and she would not have made that decision if she didn’t have to.
“So I wasn’t worried… I didn’t think she would cancel again unless she absolutely had to.”
School Of The Arts student Nadya Zaheer, 17, said: “I think she is a bit lost (over) why she is in the music industry and wants to take time to reflect.
“I am just so happy she is being honest with her fans so we can give her the support she needs. We understand the pressure she faces every day from the media and we want her to know that whatever it is, we will stand by her all the way.”
GOOFING AROUND
Snapchat, however, seems to tell a different – and happier – story.
Before the Jakarta concert, Gomez appeared on her Snapchat account to be in great spirits, goofing around with her friends in what looked like the lobby of her hotel.
Wearing rose-coloured shades, she giggled in a few other videos, saying “the jet lag is real” while mock complaining about the heat.
As she skipped around the concert venue, she said she was “very, very happy and excited” to be in Jakarta and “everybody here is super nice”.
The day after, on Sunday, Gomez’s Snapchat shenanigans continued and nothing seemed amiss.
In videos she posted of herself and her crew at lunch, she seemed cheerful as she played a game of Heads Up.
Gomez even went ahead with her Kuala Lumpur concert at Malawati Indoor Stadium last night – despite Malaysia’s Parti Islam SeMalaysia’s (PAS) youth wing calling for her gig to be cancelled.
The youth wing’s propaganda committee chairman, Mr Hafez Sabri, was quoted in The Star as saying that her “sexy” appearance would “tarnish the sanctity of the month of Syawal”, which is when Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
This article was first published on July 26, 2016.
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