Selena Gomez Reflects On How Justin Bieber Relationship Affected Her Disney Career

Even though Selena Gomez’s relationship with Justin Bieber has been over for years, when the actress reflects on her life, her time with the “Sorry” singer is still considered an important part of her transition into adulthood.

During an interview with Business of Fashion, Gomez revealed that her time as a Disney star wasn’t as pleasant as people might have thought. Along with trying to discover who she is and maintain a relationship, the star admitted that she felt overwhelmed by the invasion of her privacy, which goes along with being a child star.

Before topping charts and going on world tours, Gomez was the star of the hit Disney series “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Although she received plenty of recognition due to her time on the show, when the actress looks back on her career, she isn’t thrilled about how it made her feel.

“I remember just feeling really violated when I was younger, even just being on the beach. I was maybe 15 or 16 and people were taking pictures — photographers. I don’t think anyone really knew who I was. But I felt very violated and I didn’t like it or understand it, and that felt very weird, because I was a young girl and they were grown men. I didn’t like that feeling,” she explained.

Gomez reached a point in life where she no longer wanted to be a product of Disney Channel. “Then, I would say the last season of my show, I was probably 18 years old, is when I felt like the flip happened. I didn’t feel like it was about my art as much. I was on the fourth season of the show, and I felt like I was outgrowing it,” she confessed.

“I wanted something different and obviously I fell in love [with then-boyfriend Bieber] for the first time. There was all this stuff that was happening and I didn’t know what to do.”

Gomez’s relationship with the pop star was thrust into the spotlight back in 2010 when the two first started spending time together. Fans and the public became obsessed with the couple and nicknamed them Jelena. The young stars had an off and on relationship until they seemingly called it quits in 2014. However, for the next two years, they were romantically linked to one another because they would occasionally spend time together.

By early 2017, Gomez was spotted kissing The Weeknd, but the two were rumored to have started the romance in late 2016. Since then, the couple seems to be in a good place and has shown support for one another.

Even though her relationship with Bieber happened during a time she felt as if she had little control in her life, Gomez now feels like a force to be reckoned with, and it doesn’t hurt that she has a superstar boyfriend that adds to her happiness.

During her interview, Gomez revealed that although she has the ability to buy almost anything, it’s little things like kind gestures that warms her heart. “My boyfriend just got me a beautiful Chanel bag, and [I love it]. It wasn’t because it was a Chanel bag, it’s because of where it came from and what it meant,” she explained.

“So I wear it so proudly, and I feel cute when I have it on. I feel like, ‘I love this!’ it makes me so happy. It literally just happened so all my friends are laughing because every time I have it on, I feel a certain way. And that to me is an experience,” she added.

Even though Gomez has admittedly had a hard time growing up, it seems like she is finally content with the woman that she has become.