‘Spring Breakers’ Star Selena Gomez Gets Candid About the Habit She Says Changed Her Voice for Good, and the Warning She Has for Fans

Few pop stars have been as open about their health as Selena Gomez. Over the years she has discussed lupus, her bipolar diagnosis and the way medication has affected her body. That candor has made her one of the most closely watched celebrities online, and it has also meant that every change in her appearance or voice draws commentary.

Fans have discussed her speaking voice for years, with clips from red carpets and interviews circulating widely on social media. In December 2025, she addressed the chatter during an Instagram Live, saying her throat sometimes swells on the inside, though she did not mention vaping at the time. Her latest comments offer a different explanation.

On Sunday, October 18, the 34-year-old star posted a video of roughly a minute to her Instagram Story saying nicotine vaping changed her voice. “I’m not gonna be able to change my voice,” Gomez said. “I vaped nicotine a lot.” She went on to say that “nicotine is so hard to quit,” and that if anyone is going through it, or even trying to vape, “it’s just not worth it.”

Selena Gomez opens up about how vaping nicotine changed her voice: “I’m not gonna be able to change my voice. Nicotine is so hard to quit… It’s just not worth it. […] I’m really excited because I stopped, and I just hope I can keep it up.” https://t.co/w4euexYK51

— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 19, 2026

Gomez did not mince words about the habit. “It’s so stupid, and it’s changed my voice,” she said in the video. She then added a line that has been widely quoted: “If you guys don’t like listening to my voice, that’s totally understandable. I don’t mind. Just don’t listen to it.”

The tone was part frustration, part acceptance. Rather than defending the sound of her voice, she simply acknowledged the change and pushed the focus toward the warning. “It sucks,” she said.

The message was not only a confession. Gomez said she has now stopped vaping and hopes to keep it up. “I am really excited because I stopped and I just hope I can keep it up,” she said.

She also told viewers that the road is difficult but not impossible. According to the Press Association’s report, she said, “It’s really hard but I know if you’re going through something, you can get through it too.” Outlets noted that she described quitting as really hard, but she framed it as worthwhile.

Gomez has not shared specific medical details about how vaping affected her voice. Her comments suggest she considers the change lasting, but no medical explanation has been offered. She has also previously spoken about how medications for lupus and bipolar disorder have affected her body, and her latest remarks do not rule those factors in or out.

That caution matters, because voice changes can have many causes. The December Instagram Live and the latest video describe different explanations, and she has not tied them together. For now, the clearest takeaway is the one she stated herself: she believes nicotine played a role and she wants others to avoid it.

Reaction has been mixed. Many viewers praised her transparency and said they related to how hard nicotine is to quit, with one user writing that nicotine addiction is no joke and that they were glad she managed to quit. Others raised questions about her health history in the replies, including her kidney transplant.

The moment also reflects a broader pattern. Gomez has long used her platform to talk openly about her health and wellbeing, and she is known for taking breaks from social media when she needs space. By posting a quick Story rather than a polished statement, she kept the conversation informal and direct.

The video comes days after she hosted the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit at the Hollywood Palladium on October 14. She is also the founder of Rare Beauty and stars in ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ She released the collaborative album ‘I Said I Love You First’ with her husband, Benny Blanco, in March 2025.

For a performer whose voice is part of her livelihood, the admission is a notable one. It is also the kind of public service message that tends to land when it comes from someone fans have followed for years. Whether or not her voice changes again, her request is simple: do not start.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!