Actress Francia Raisa, who gave a kidney to Selena Gomez, granting the singer a renewed chance at life, has spoken out about the speculation surrounding a supposed falling out between them after she did not attend Gomez’s wedding.
The 37-year-old was highlighted in a recent interview where she asserted that stories of a rift with Gomez were merely “rumors.”
Raisa also mentioned Gomez’s then-forthcoming wedding to Benny Blanco, which she reportedly did not attend.
In the interview, seemingly recorded at a bookstore event, Raisa expressed her well-wishes for Gomez’s upcoming nuptials while speaking in Spanish.
“I know she’s getting married, and I’m very happy for her. And look… she has a life and she is already a billionaire and I am grateful that I could do that for her,” she said, according to translated subtitles.
When asked what she would tell someone contemplating organ donation, Raisa responded: “Look, from the beginning the doctors told me, it’s a donation.”
“If you are going to donate a dollar to St. Jude or somewhere else, you’re not going to call to say, ‘Hey, what are you doing with my dollar?’”
“It’s a donation and it’s something nice that I was able to do,” she said about the kidney she donated to Gomez. “I am grateful that I am alive and I can say that I have saved a life.”
Raisa also indicated that organ donation might be “more difficult” for women than for men, though she didn’t elaborate on the reasons behind this potential gender difference.
The How I Met Your Father star gave a firm reply when questioned about reports alleging she was “angry” with Gomez over how the singer was managing her health post-transplant.
“Well, right now what you are asking me is nonsense that has been in the media, and there are too many rumors,” she replied. “I’ve never said anything.”
“When that rumor came out that I had gotten angry or something like that because [Gomez] was smoking, I wasn’t aware of those rumors,” Raisa continued.
“No one knows what’s going on, and neither she nor I are talking about it,” she added, noting, “One day, maybe we will address it.”
Raisa donated a kidney to Gomez in 2017 after the Spring Breakers actress was diagnosed with lupus.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
