7 Shocking Secrets About Selena Gomez's Life-Altering Year In 2018

The year 2018 was, by all accounts, one of the most transformative and secretly tumultuous periods in Selena Gomez’s life, an era she would later describe as a turning point from which she emerged irrevocably changed. While the public saw a pop star releasing hit singles and launching major fashion collaborations, behind the scenes, the then-25-year-old was navigating a devastating final breakup, a major career controversy, and a profound, life-altering health crisis.

As of late 2024, new details continue to emerge about this pivotal year, largely through her own candid reflections and the 2022 documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me. This period was not just about celebrity headlines; it was a brutal, necessary reckoning with her physical and mental health, setting the stage for her advocacy work and the creation of her business empire, Rare Beauty.

Selena Gomez: Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Selena Marie Gomez
• Born: July 22, 1992 (Age 32 as of late 2024)
• Birthplace: Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
• Occupation: Singer, Actress, Producer, Businesswoman
• Years Active: 2002–present
• Key Roles (2018): Singer/Executive Producer (13 Reasons Why), Actress (A Rainy Day in New York, Hotel Transylvania 3), Fashion Designer (Coach)
• Health Diagnoses: Lupus, Kidney Transplant (2017), Bipolar Disorder (Diagnosis in 2018)
• Current Projects (Post-2018): Only Murders in the Building, Rare Beauty, new music with Benny Blanco.

1. The Secret Psychotic Episode and Bipolar Diagnosis

The most significant and recently revealed event of 2018 was Selena Gomez’s severe mental health crisis. In a moment of extreme distress during the year, she experienced a psychotic episode, a condition involving a break from reality.

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Following this terrifying experience, she sought intensive mental health treatment for several months. It was during this period of seeking help and healing that she received the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

This diagnosis, while initially overwhelming, became a catalyst for her later advocacy work, transforming her public narrative from a troubled star to a powerful voice for mental health awareness.

2. The Final, Definitive 'Jelena' Breakup

2018 marked the definitive end of her long, on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Bieber. The pair had rekindled their romance in late 2017, following her high-profile relationship with The Weeknd, but they officially called it quits for the final time in March 2018.

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While the initial split was reported as a temporary break, it became permanent. Just months later, Bieber was engaged to Hailey Baldwin, a swift development that placed intense public scrutiny on Gomez.

Years later, Gomez would reflect on the heartbreak, stating that the breakup was "the best thing that ever happened to me," as it helped her find purpose and self-discovery.

3. A Major Career Controversy Over a Woody Allen Film

During 2018, Gomez became embroiled in a significant public controversy surrounding her role in the Woody Allen film, A Rainy Day in New York. Filming had taken place, but a renewed focus on historical allegations against Allen led to a public backlash against the actors involved, including Gomez and her co-star Timothée Chalamet.

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The film was ultimately shelved by Amazon Studios, the distributor, who canceled the release. A truly unique detail from this time is that Gomez’s mother, Mandy Teefey, publicly stated she had advised her daughter against working on the project.

In the aftermath, Gomez donated her salary from the film to the Time’s Up movement, effectively distancing herself from the controversy and prioritizing her personal values.

4. Two Hit Singles That Masked Her Inner Turmoil

Despite the intense personal struggles, 2018 was a strong year for her music career with two significant releases:

• "Back to You" (May 10, 2018): This single was released as part of the soundtrack for the second season of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, which Gomez also executive produced. The song’s melancholic lyrics about an inescapable pull toward an ex-lover were widely interpreted by fans as a direct reference to her relationship with Justin Bieber.
• "Taki Taki" (September 28, 2018): A massive global hit, this collaborative Latin track with DJ Snake, Ozuna, and Cardi B showcased her continued commercial power and versatility in the music industry. [cite: 10 (from step 2)]

The success of these songs kept her in the public eye, inadvertently drawing attention away from the severe mental health challenges she was facing at the time.

5. Elevated Status as a Fashion Designer with Coach

2018 marked a significant evolution in Selena Gomez's partnership with the luxury brand Coach. She had already been an ambassador, starring in the Spring 2018 campaign, but this year she stepped further into the role of a designer.

The *Selena Gomez x Coach* Fall 2018 collaboration was launched, featuring a full line of apparel, including outerwear, small leather goods, and, most notably, her own line of handbags. This move solidified her status not just as a celebrity endorser, but as a legitimate creative partner and businesswoman, foreshadowing the launch of Rare Beauty two years later.

6. The Lingering Effects of Her Lupus and Kidney Transplant

While the kidney transplant from her friend Francia Raisa occurred in 2017, the recovery and the ongoing management of her chronic condition, Lupus, continued to be a factor throughout 2018. The stress and physical demands of her career, combined with the underlying autoimmune disorder, are understood to have exacerbated her overall health issues, contributing to the severe physical and mental distress she experienced. Her health struggles were a constant backdrop to her public life. [cite: 8 (from step 1)]

7. An Essential Period of Withdrawal and Healing

In the latter part of 2018, following the intense personal and professional crises, Selena Gomez made the crucial decision to step back from the spotlight. She took a hiatus to focus entirely on her healing and recovery, a period that allowed her to process the bipolar diagnosis and the emotional fallout from her personal life. This withdrawal was essential for her long-term stability and is now recognized as the necessary foundation for the stronger, more self-aware person and advocate she has become in the years since.