SELENA Gomez’s ‘unnecessarily cruel’ comments has landed her in hot water with people who have long modeled for her brand, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The Only Murders in the Building actress has come under fire for boasting that her billion-dollar brand doesn’t “use real models” for its beauty campaigns.
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(L-R) Ellie Austin, Selena Gomez, and Elyse Cohen speak onstage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2025 on October 15, 2025 in Washington, DCCredit: Getty
Guests Celebrate The Launch Of Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush Collection at Studio 525 on April 06, 2024 in New York CityCredit: Getty
While Selena, 33, was attempting to deliver a positive message about how Rare Beauty highlights real, natural features, many took offense to the comments.
The company has used hundreds of different models since it launched in September 2020 – making many feel Selena’s comments disregard their talents and professions.
Her remarks caught the eye of one Rare Beauty model who spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about hearing Selena’s comments.
The model, who does not wish to be named due to fear of not being hired for future campaigns, has been working with the brand since 2024.
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“I actually cried when I heard Selena’s comments,” the model claimed, who then added: “I was already having a bad day and was feeling really sensitive and emotional.”
She continued: “I was feeling nervous about some career stuff, and then I saw that video of her saying I’m not even a real model.
“It hit me at the worst time because now I’m like… ‘what am I even doing?’
“I thought this would be a big break for me, and to be told by the founder of the company that I look up to that I am not ‘real’ at my job?
“It’s degrading and embarrassing. The number of family and friends who sent me that clip after was mortifying.”
The model said that she has not yet had a chance to meet Selena in person but fired off that “at this point, I’m good.”
“I don’t need to meet her. I hope in the future she chooses her words more wisely and remembers how much influence she has.”
When asked if the model, who has gone on to work with other large beauty brands, would pose for Rare again, she confessed: “If it’s a huge campaign, I’m not in a position to say no to it.
“But to be honest, would I want to work for a company again that discards what I do, or am trying to do, for a living? Ideally not.
“I’d like to work for brands that see me, that believe in me. I thought Rare was the epitome of that you know? But I was wrong.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Rare Beauty for comment.
‘CRUEL’ INTENTIONS?
Last week, Selena was a keynote speaker at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit to celebrate her work with Rare Beauty.
At one point during the conversation, Selena said on stage that she wanted to continue “doubling down” on the company’s pursuit of more natural beauty.
Selena Gomez Celebrates the Launch of Rare Beauty’s Find Comfort Body Collection on January 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, CaliforniaCredit: Getty
Selena Gomez attends Rare Beauty’s 3rd Annual Mental Health Summit at on May 01, 2024 in New York CityCredit: Getty
Selena Gomez nearly suffers wardrobe malfunction as star accidentally bares too much in white robe before Rare Beauty eventCredit: Instagram/selenagomez
“I want the conversation to change. If anything, we will double down on what we mean.
“We don’t use models. We use people who I have felt they can be your best friend.
“I want something real,” she said on stage at the summit.
Following the comments going viral, another model who has posed for Rare reposted the video and added: “Well this is awkward…
“She called me chopped oh lord!”
Fans were also fuming by Selena’s comments, with one saying: “She’s so tone def & hypocritical in the name of being ‘inclusive.’
“Anything to boost her ego is why she genuinely doesn’t see normal people as beautiful loool.”
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“The way she acts like models aren’t real people. She’s so affected by pretty models it’s insane. That is their job!! Girl shut upppp,” another said.
While many said the “cruel” comments stemmed from a place of “insecurity.”
Selena Gomez outside Sephora on July 8, 2022 in Paris, FranceCredit: Getty
Selena Gomez is glowing in rare Beauty promoCredit: Instagram/Selena Gomez