LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former BFF Francia Raisa, 35, who donated her kidney to Selena Gomez in 2017, has denied the rumors that she was forced into taking the decision.
Raisa and Gomez were close friends since they met in 2007, but their relationship has been strained in recent years. They had a fallout in 2018 when Raisa confronted Gomez about her lifestyle choices after the transplant.
Was Francia Raisa forced to donate her kidney to Selena Gomez?
She said that it was a voluntary act of kindness and that she has been blessed ever since. The former besties have had a tumultuous relationship as they briefly reconciled, but then had another rift in 2020 when Gomez did not acknowledge Raisa as her friend in an interview with Rolling Stone and an Apple TV+ documentary 'My Mind and Me,' where she was absent. However, it seems that they have buried the hatchet, as Gomez surprised fans by wishing Raisa a happy birthday on Instagram last month. Gomez wrote, “Happiest of birthdays to this special human beings. No matter where life takes us, I love you. @franciaraisa.” She also shared some photos of them together, including one from Raisa’s 30th birthday party.
'No one forced me to do anything'
Raisa responded to the gesture by following Gomez back on Instagram, indicating that they may have mended their friendship. She also told TMZ that she has “no beef” with Gomez and that she is a “walking success story” after the kidney donation. At present, responding to the rumors of forced donation, Raisa, while speaking on the Good Guys Podcast said, “I just felt it in my heart, I knew I was a match. I knew it was gonna happen. No one forced me to do anything. It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart and I’ve been super blessed ever since.” The kidney donation was a life-saving procedure for Gomez, who suffered from lupus-related organ damage. She then revealed that Raisa took the initiative to get tested and did not hesitate to make the decision. She said it was “unbelievably overwhelming” that Raisa did such a generous thing for her.
'Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know'
But their friendship was tested by several incidents that made Raisa feel hurt and ignored by Gomez. In 2018, Gomez was spotted partying and drinking alcohol, which Raisa reportedly disapproved of. She also felt that Gomez was not taking care of herself after the transplant. In 2020, Gomez referred to Taylor Swift as her “only best friend” in an interview with Rolling Stone, which Raisa found “interesting”. She unfollowed Gomez on Instagram and commented on a TikTok video that documented their drama. She slipped into the comment sections and wrote, "Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know."
