Selena Gomez didn"t just win the trophy for Favorite Female Artist – Pop/ Rock at the 2016 American Music Awards.
She also delivered the most powerful acceptance speech of the evening.
Showing up in public for the first time since announcing a break from performing, as a result of emotional stress and a recurrence of Lupus, Gomez didn"t hide her problems from a national audience.
“I think it’s safe to say that all of you know my life whether I like it or not,” the singer said on stage, adding:
“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.”
Several weeks ago, Gomez got into a public dispute with Justin Bieber over photos her ex-boyfriend shared of his new girlfriend at the time.
She then basically went into hiding, as rumors circulated that she was in rehab… still fighting with Bieber… and even getting married to Bieber.
“I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here [holds chest]," Gomez said through tears at the AMAs.
"I’m not trying to get validation nor do I need it anymore… If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken."
Truly powerful stuff. WATCH THE FULL SPEECH BELOW:
