Flavor Flav Defends Selena Gomez amid Backlash over Emotional Video: 'That Woman Is Always So Brave'

Mar. 15, 2025

Flavor Flav; Selena Gomez.Photo:Johnny Nunez/Getty; Selena Gomez/Instagram

Johnny Nunez/Getty; Selena Gomez/Instagram

Flavor Flavis teamSelena Gomez.On Monday, Jan. 27, the rapper came to theEmilia Pérezactress' defense after sheshared personal Instagram Storiesabout recentmass deportationshappening throughout the United States.“Team Selena Gomez. Again,” Flav, 65,wrote on X. “That woman is always so brave to share her truth,,, and so many are quick to bully her.“Flav’s message of support came hours after Gomez, 32,posted — and then deleted — raw videos of herself cryingamidPresident Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.“All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise,” Gomez said in the emotional clip captioned “I’m sorry” with a Mexican flag emoji.In a follow-up slide, Gomez posted: “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.“Flavor Flav in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 17, 2024.Jemal Countess/GettySam Parker, a 2018 Republican Senate candidate from Utah, reacted to Gomez’svideos on Xfrom his personal account, writing, “Deport Selena Gomez.“She responded on her Instagram Stories: “Oh, Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat.“Gomez’s emotional plea came one day after 956 people were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 26 amid a nationwide immigration crackdown, theBBC reported. The raids happened in cities throughout the country including Chicago, Miami, Boston and Newark, New Jersey.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Sunday arrests had been the most to happen sinceTrump, 78, took office on Jan. 20. Before the Sunday arrests, 286 arrests were made on Saturday, 593 arrests on Friday and 538 arrests on Thursday, as per the BBC.Gomez produced the 2019 Netflix docuseriesLiving Undocumentedwhich follows undocumented families living in the United States. She has been a vocal advocate for immigration stemming from her family’s experience.In a October 2019 op-ed forTIME, Gomez shared her family’s story, saying that her aunt “was the first out of her family to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. in the back of a truck in the 1970s.” Soon after, her “grandparents followed” and Gomez’s father was born in Texas not long after.Selena Gomez in Palm Springs on Jan. 3, 2025.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty"Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance,” Gomez wrote, commending her family’s “bravery and sacrifice.“The “Single Soon” artist acknowledged that her family was fortunate and that the stories told inLiving Undocumentedmoved her to tears. “When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations,” she said.Gomez then added: “I feel afraid for my country.”

Flavor Flavis teamSelena Gomez.

On Monday, Jan. 27, the rapper came to theEmilia Pérezactress' defense after sheshared personal Instagram Storiesabout recentmass deportationshappening throughout the United States.

“Team Selena Gomez. Again,” Flav, 65,wrote on X. “That woman is always so brave to share her truth,,, and so many are quick to bully her.”

Flav’s message of support came hours after Gomez, 32,posted — and then deleted — raw videos of herself cryingamidPresident Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise,” Gomez said in the emotional clip captioned “I’m sorry” with a Mexican flag emoji.

In a follow-up slide, Gomez posted: “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”

Flavor Flav in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 17, 2024.Jemal Countess/Getty

Jemal Countess/Getty

Sam Parker, a 2018 Republican Senate candidate from Utah, reacted to Gomez’svideos on Xfrom his personal account, writing, “Deport Selena Gomez.”

She responded on her Instagram Stories: “Oh, Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat.”

Gomez’s emotional plea came one day after 956 people were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 26 amid a nationwide immigration crackdown, theBBC reported. The raids happened in cities throughout the country including Chicago, Miami, Boston and Newark, New Jersey.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Sunday arrests had been the most to happen sinceTrump, 78, took office on Jan. 20. Before the Sunday arrests, 286 arrests were made on Saturday, 593 arrests on Friday and 538 arrests on Thursday, as per the BBC.

Gomez produced the 2019 Netflix docuseriesLiving Undocumentedwhich follows undocumented families living in the United States. She has been a vocal advocate for immigration stemming from her family’s experience.

In a October 2019 op-ed forTIME, Gomez shared her family’s story, saying that her aunt “was the first out of her family to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. in the back of a truck in the 1970s.” Soon after, her “grandparents followed” and Gomez’s father was born in Texas not long after.

Selena Gomez in Palm Springs on Jan. 3, 2025.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

“Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance,” Gomez wrote, commending her family’s “bravery and sacrifice.”

The “Single Soon” artist acknowledged that her family was fortunate and that the stories told inLiving Undocumentedmoved her to tears. “When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations,” she said.

Gomez then added: “I feel afraid for my country.”

source: people.com