Selena Gomez’s Former BFF Francia Raisa Closes Rumor That She Was FORCED To Donate Her Kidney To The Singer: ‘It Was Out Of The Sincere Kindness Of My Heart’
Selena Gomez’s former best friend, Francia Raisa, has cracked down on rumors that she was forced to donate her kidney to the singer.
The actress, 35, made headlines in 2017 for her incredible act of kindness, donating to help Gomez, 31, as she battled lupus-related organ damage.
Speak on the Good Guys podcastshe was questioned about the procedure, prompting her to explain: “I just felt it in my heart, I knew I was a match. I knew it was going to happen.
“Nobody forced me to do anything. It came from the sincere kindness of my heart and I have been super blessed ever since.”
She further revealed that she considers herself an “ongoing success story,” noting, “I’m taking better care of myself now than before,” and that she’s using her experience to help other people considering organ donation.
Speaking: Selena Gomez’s former best friend Francia Raisa appeared on the Good Guys Podcast to quell rumors that she was forced to donate her kidney to the singer
Connected for life: The actress, 35, made headlines in 2017 with her incredible act of kindness, donating to help Gomez, 31, as she battled lupus-related organ damage
Raisa first met Gomez in 2007 when they were teenagers and they instantly developed a close bond and attended a number of red carpet events together.
But since donating a kidney to Gomez, the pair have had a rocky relationship and have been feuding in public for months.
Yet this no longer seems to be the case, with the How I Met Your Father star insisting she has “no beef” with Gomez, who recently posted a birthday tribute in her honor.
While speaking to TMZ last month, Raisa was tight-lipped about the exact status of her friendship with the founder of Rare Beauty, though she made it clear that they’re not currently in a fight.
The artist recently followed Gomez back on Instagram, indicating that they may have reconciled their friendship.
The Grammy nominee shocked fans after publicly wishing Raisa a happy birthday despite their vicious feud.
“Happiest birthdays to this special human being. Wherever life takes us, I love you. @franciaraisa,” the 31-year-old Disney Channel alum wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
She included some of her favorite photos with Raisa, including one of the two posing together on her star-studded 30th birthday this past July.
BFFs: Raisa first met Gomez in 2007 when they were teenagers and they instantly developed a close bond and attended some red carpet events together but have fallen out in recent years (pictured in 2017)
The pair have had a rocky friendship in the years since Raisa donated a life-saving kidney to Gomez in 2017.
Gomez needed a new kidney after suffering organ damage related to her lupus diagnosis.
To honor Raisa’s incredible sacrifice, they each had the date of the surgery tattooed.
A year after the transplant, Gomez was seen partying and drinking alcohol, which reportedly led to Raisa confronting her about her “unhealthy choices.”
They reconciled in late 2018 after Gomez suffered a mental breakdown and checked himself into an institution.
But tensions flared last year when Gomez told Rolling Stone that her “only friend in the industry” is fellow pop diva Taylor Swift.
Raisa commented, “Interesting” on Instagram and made her feelings clear by subsequently unfollowing Gomez.
When a TikTok account posted a video documenting the burgeoning drama, Gomez spitefully took to the comments section to write, “Sorry I didn’t mention every single person I know.”
To add fuel to the fire, Gomez also forgot to mention Raisa when she spoke candidly about her mental and physical health in her Apple TV+ documentary My Mind And Me.
Gomez showed appreciation for Raisa when she candidly discussed the life-saving transplant while appearing on the streamer series Dear….
‘I love you’: Gomez made a shocking move by publicly wishing her ex-BFF a happy birthday last month despite their vicious feud
She revealed that the actress took it upon herself to get tested to see if she could be a kidney donor and said it was “incredibly overwhelming” that Raisa didn’t even waver when making the decision.
But the following month, another wedge seemed to have been placed between the couple when a TikTok comment went viral in which Gomez referred to Swift — not Raisa — as her “best friend.”
Back in May, Raisa appeared to be shading her former BFF by avoiding all questions about her while in LA.
Raisa was asked about the state of her relationship with the founder of Rare Beauty and if they agree, but she refused to share any insight.