Francia Raisa Reveals the Real Truth Behind Her Rollercoaster Friendship with Selena Gomez – No Connection to the Kidney Donation!

Francia Raisa and Selena Gomez. Getty Images (2)

Francia Raisa is shedding light on her enduring friendship with Selena Gomez, noting that their various experiences and challenges throughout the years were unrelated to the kidney transplant.

Raisa, 35, recently shared her thoughts with Extra TV at Gomez's inaugural Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday, October 4. She expressed, "Occasionally, I believe individuals require time apart to foster personal growth. We needed to embark on our individual journeys and evolve as individuals."

Raisa described the need to "prioritize self-reflection and unravel the confusion within me, as I was not in a good state." Although she refrained from divulging any explicit details, the How I Met Your Father actress hinted at her turbulent history.

"I had a difficult childhood, and I will be discussing it soon," Raisa stated. "Selena has provided tremendous support throughout all of those experiences."

Raisa and Gomez, both 31 years old, crossed paths while working on Secret Life of the American Teenager and Wizards of Waverly Place, respectively. During that time, the two formed a strong bond and, as Raisa described it, became connected through shared experiences of trauma while visiting children at a hospital.

"We began chatting while we both had boyfriends, and then we started having fun together," Raisa recalled on Wednesday. "When my boyfriend and I ended our relationship, and she also went through a breakup, she reached out to me. She said, 'I'm going through a tough time... I just got out of a relationship.' I replied, 'Girl, me too,' and from that moment, we became inseparable."

In 2017, Gomez publicly announced that her "amazing friend" Raisa had bestowed her with "the ultimate gift" by donating one of her kidneys. (Two years prior, Gomez had revealed her diagnosis of the autoimmune disease lupus.)

Selena Gomez and Francia Raisa. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

After my procedure, I became aware that some of my fans had noticed my absence during the summer and were wondering why I wasn't promoting my new music. I want to clarify that I was undergoing a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and focusing on my recovery, which was vital for my overall health.

In the subsequent years, rumors of tension between us began to circulate among fans. These speculations gained more traction when I referred to Taylor Swift as my "only friend in the industry" in a Rolling Stone interview in November 2022.

Raisa, on the other hand, appeared to subtly criticize the comment initially but stated to TMZ earlier this year that she and Gomez have no issues. Raisa further elaborated on Wednesday, stating that a significant moment in their friendship was when Gomez marked her 30th birthday in 2022.

"I have undergone significant personal growth over the past year and since turning 30. Currently, I am 35," she expressed. "When Selena reached the milestone of turning 30, I noticed a change and brought it up. She agreed and acknowledged that entering the 30s comes with a distinct shift. I told her, 'Welcome to your 30s. Now we have the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves.'"

Raisa further emphasized that despite the challenges that friendships may face, she and Gomez maintain a strong bond.

“People evolve, connections transform. Without a doubt, I regard her as my younger sibling while she regards me as her elder sister. … I am unaware of any flawless bond,” Raisa shared, highlighting her contentment in “commemorating and endorsing” Gomez.

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Francia Raisa

Selena Gomez