The tears of Selena Gomez and the cruelty of social media

We are talking about cruelty because otherwise we should use much heavier epithets and judgments. Selena Gomez, actress, singer and model, she was forced to delete a video where she cried For the treatment that the Trump administration is reserving to Mexican irregular immigrants on the border with the United States. “Apparently it is not good to show empathy” on social media “people don’t want to,” Gomez explained by commenting like this the huge amount of criticism, insults, threats he received After sharing a deep and human feeling with his over 420 million followers on Instagram.

The 32 -year -old actress, born in Texas but with deep Mexican roots, has often told the difficult conditions of some members of her family, including an aunt who arrived in the United States in precarious conditions. “In the 70s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck. My grandparents followed her and my father was born in Texas shortly after. In 1992, I was born US town thanks to their courage and sacrifice “, he confessed to Time in 2019. In short, third generation immigrant but without forgetting his past and, more generally, the difficulties of a people that the White House has put in its sights, between duties and repatriations.

“I just wanted to say I’m so sorry. My people are attacked, including children. I do not understand. I would like to do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do but I will try, I promise it. “These were the words that accompanied the tears of despair for the deportations taking place in many southern regions of the country. Tears that many supporters of the Republicans have not forgiven them.

Many right -wing commentators, in fact, enhanced by these first days of great energy and activities shown by Trump and his administration, have hardly attacked Selena Gomez for showing this closeness to people who have illegally entered the country.Positions exacerbated by individual users on X and Instagram who have dissected heavy accusations against those who underline the ‘human’ side of reception. Criticisms spread at any latitude and which often are based on absurdities as the famous “hospitable in your home”.

Among the heaviest there was certainly Tomi Lahren, visitor to the Fox News lounges and in general nearby and admirer of the most intransigent Trumpian positions: “That’s why we do not accept political advice from Disney’s girls,” he said in a video posted On social media directed to Gomez.

In the first week as president of the United States, “Second edition”, Trump has strengthened the presence of soldiers on the borders between the USA and Mexico Giving life to a series of operations aimed at deporting and postponing many immigrants to the home in recent years through the Mexican via area. There is talk of ‘raced’ in churches, meeting centers and in many other places frequented by those who have decided to try to live a different existence in a foreign country. And that today have been labeled as unwanted.

Selena Gomez, around promoting Emilia Perezone of the most anticipated films at the Oscars, has already done a lot in the past to improve the migratory issue. In 2019 he contributed directly to the production of “Living Undocumiated”, a Netflix docu-series that told the stories of 8 families who had illegally crossed the border. All to raise awareness of the emotional side felt by these people. “I am worried about the way people are treated in my country. As a Mexican-American woman I feel the responsibility of using my platform, my social networks, to give voice To those who are too afraid to speak, “he said, keeping a position contrary to the scenarios put in the field by Trump. This time, years later, the story is repeated. But the strength of social media, the hatred they manage to provoke and spread, have Forced Gomez to take a step back, to erase his public emotions and denounce what is now well known: online often there is no room for empathy. in the world.