Selena Gomez Slams Fan’s Bullying ‘Cancer’ Comment,’ But What Provoked It?

Selena Gomez called out a bullying fan on Instagram over the weekend for making a comment wishing cancer on the starlet. While not excusing the fan’s actions, we ask if a recent gossip report has inflamed impressionable fans into a war of words.

Selena Gomez will not be bullied any more.

The 21-year-old took to her Instagram account on Saturday to slam a female fan who wrote a message at her page including a vile comment about hoping the Disney alum would “burn in hell with cancer” among other repellent remarks, according to Mail Online.

Unfortunately, for the fan, she picked on the wrong star to tangle with. Gomez has previously talked about being bullied by others and stepped in when a youngster was bullied online.

Selena introduced her lengthy reply to the fan’s cruel comment by explaining that bullying is a serious enough issue to draw her out of more usual reticence.

The Spring Breakers actress’ caption began: “Honestly, I don’t speak up much because it’s simply *always* taken out of context. But I don’t take bullying well. I have seen too much to not say anything.”

Gomez then launched into a written missive that is both devastating yet restrained.

“The comment you left about cancer was absurd. How distasteful of a young woman,” she wrote.

The Latina then explained that cancer was a personal matter for her, adding: “I have gone through that battle with fans and family members.”

She added, “You can dislike someone but to wish something that could happen to you or your family is uncalled for sweetheart.”

Selena’s conclusion was uncompromising but also offered advice to the fan to better her behavior.

Continuing, she wrote, “You won’t be winning ‘anyone’s’ heart that way. Trust me. Educate yourself a tad more. God bless love. Be an amazing woman. You’re beautiful.”

Some time after Selena responded to the fan, the user known as “official.kerry” deleted her Instagram account after she was swamped by angry Gomez fans.

The “Come and Get It” singer is no stranger to bullying, both by a fan contingent of her on-off boyfriend Justin Bieber, and by dubiously sourced gossip reports intermittently accusing her of various claims usually involving being an alleged drug addict or unstable in some way.

Bieber and Selena first began dating in 2010, going public in 2011 and initially splitting up in November 2012. The pair have maintained an on-off relationship since. During that time the petite brunette has been subjected to bullying from a section of Bieber fans, which she has spoken about from time to time.

Speaking to New York’s Z100 radio station in March 2011, Gomez opened up about bullying she received.

“It’s hard. It hurts, it really does,” the starlet admitted on the show.”I don’t feel like I’m doing anything wrong. I’ve been best friends with him [Bieber] for a very long time. It does hurt my feelings a lot, but I try not to focus on it. I have a great family and great fans.

Even after Bieber and Gomez broke up in 2012 the online intimidation continued, reigniting each time they reunited.

After the pair appeared to reunite briefly last month, a group of Bieber’s own fans accused him of ignoring them because of his rekindled romance with Gomez.

The group trended #ignorejustinproject on Twitter and urged fans to ignore the singer until he complied with their demands to go online more often – and the real bone of contention – that he end his relationship with Gomez.

It’s worth noting Bieber has also endured considerable bullying throughout his career, and continues to.

Following his 2009 debut, a stack of websites denigrated the then 15-year-old’s physicality and sexuality. That line of of attack was echoed by some media pundits, commentators and celebrities such as former Nickelodeon actor, Drake Bell.

Fast forward to Bieber’s booing at a New York Knicks Vs.Dallas Mavericks game in 2011. At the time, it was put down to reaction to the ubiquitousness of the Bieber Fever phenomenon.

That trend accelerated due to a combination of Bieber’s own actions – which appear to have both substance as well as emotional-mental origins — and a firmly, negative media narrative during his well-documented 2013-present day. The bullying of the star is now at record levels with the endgame of that pattern as yet unclear.

Coming back to Gomez’s timely encounter with a bully this weekend.

It isn’t surprising feelings are sparky between Beliebers and Selenators, if indeed the fan is a card-carrying Belieber.

The two fandoms are comprised of mostly tweens and teenagers and they are a particularly excitable, emotionally confused demographic. Perfect soil, then, for a recent report claiming both Bieber and Gomez are engaged in a rebound dating duel and hell-bent of outdoing the other with photos of their new dates to make each other jealous.

Online activity indicates at least one by-product of the “dating duel” claim is an inflamed war of words between the two fandoms.

We can’t say for certain if the fan who Gomez dealt with was responding to that report or, in fact, confirm if the fan was a Belieber. But the massive coverage and attention on the “dating duel” report is the juvenile backdrop against which the fan made her comment.

Are we saying gossip media can be specifically blamed for the fan’s conduct. No, we’re not. But young fandoms are inherently impressionable, so we should have a care what they are fed.

Currently, the hostility between the two camps has led to bullying of Yovanna Ventura, an 18-year-old fitness model and Bieber’s current gal pal. Ugly comments from both Beliebers and Selenators at the model’s Instagram page will make your eyes water.

Ironically, for all the talk of war and jealousy between Justin and Selena, E! News recently cited a source who didn’t deny the possibility they might be playing a game of dating one-upmanship on social media, saying: “They are kids. Of course they might try to do that.”

However, the insider also said while the on-again, off-again pair are not together they are still close friends.

Adding: “There will forever be an emotional connection for them, but they don’t have a title to their relationship. He is not her boyfriend, but the feelings are always going to be there.”

Do you think Selena addressed the fan’s bullying in the right way — and further, did media reporting on Bieber and Gomez play a role in the conduct of the fan?

Let us know in comments below.

[Image via SantaBanta.com]