Selena Gomez has always been open with her fans about her health, and her latest message is no different. In an Instagram Stories video posted on October 18, 2026, the 34-year-old singer and actress said that vaping nicotine changed her voice and that quitting was one of the hardest things she has done. The clip spread quickly across social media, drawing a mix of support from people who relate to nicotine struggles and criticism from those who brought up her 2017 kidney transplant.
What Selena Gomez Said in the Video
Gomez spoke directly to the camera in a clip of about one minute. She explained that the change in her voice is permanent and that she wanted to warn others before they start.
“I’m not gonna be able to change my voice. I vaped nicotine a lot. Nicotine is so hard to quit, and I think I just wanted to say, if you’re going through it, or if you’re even trying to vape, it’s just not worth it. It’s so stupid, and it’s changed my voice.”
She also made light of the situation by telling fans they are free to stop listening if they do not like how she sounds.
“So if you guys don’t like listening to my voice, that’s totally understandable. I don’t mind. Just don’t listen to it.”
The important part of her message was that she has stopped vaping. She said she is “really excited” about quitting but admitted it is “really hard” to keep going.
“I just hope I can keep it up. If you are going through something, you can get through it too. It sucks.”
The Voice Change She Addressed Before
This is not the first time Gomez has spoken about her voice. Fans have noticed a huskier, raspier tone in recent years. Many had linked the change to lupus, the autoimmune condition she has lived with for years, or to the medication she takes for it.
She answered a fan question about her voice during an Instagram Live session in December 2025. At the time, she said her throat sometimes swells from the inside but did not name vaping as the cause.
“Sometimes things happen. I get weird. My throat kind of swells inside sometimes. That’s all.”
The October 18 video is the first time she has directly connected her voice change to nicotine vaping. According to the Cleveland Clinic, vaping can cause nicotine addiction, lung scarring, coughing, and a dry or irritated throat, all of which can affect a singer’s voice.
Fans Who Relate to the Struggle
Reaction online was split, but a large group of users said they understood exactly what Gomez described. The phrase “I get her so much” became a common response on X and other platforms.
One user wrote: “I can’t lie I get her so much.”
Others said the message should be taken seriously because nicotine addiction is difficult to break, and hearing a celebrity admit it made the struggle feel more normal. The comment sections on several entertainment sites filled with people sharing their own experiences with quitting vaping or smoking.
Criticism Over the Kidney Transplant
A different group of users focused on Gomez’s 2017 kidney transplant. Francia Raisa, a close friend at the time, donated a kidney to Gomez after complications from lupus. Doctors generally recommend that transplant patients stop smoking and vaping because continued use can affect kidney health and transplant outcomes.
One social media post read: “Francia really gave this girl her kidney and she continued to smoke… oh wow.”
Another user wrote: “You actually gotta be a different level of [jerk] to have your friend give you their kidney and still continue to smoke whilst disrespecting them publicly.”
The criticism picked up traction on X and TikTok, where clips of the video were reposted with commentary. Some fans defended Gomez by pointing out that addiction is a health issue and that she has now stopped. Others said the transplant detail makes the situation harder to ignore.
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Other Selena Gomez News This Month
The vaping video arrived just days after Gomez hosted the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles on October 14, 2026. The event raised money for youth mental health work through her Rare Beauty brand. She also shared that she and husband Benny Blanco marked their first wedding anniversary at home with cake and their wedding videos.
Only Murders in the Building, the Hulu comedy series she stars in and executive produces with Steve Martin and Martin Short, returns for its sixth season on December 8, 2026. The new season moves the story to London under the title Only Murders in London.
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