Pop star Selena Gomez recently sparked a political firestorm after sharing an emotional video on Instagram, expressing concern over deportation policies and their impact on children.
In response, the White House fired back with a controversial post, highlighting cases of violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The official White House account on X (formerly Twitter) called out Gomez directly, sharing a video featuring mothers of crime victims who criticized the singer for not acknowledging their losses. The post read:
"Kayla Hamilton, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin were murdered by illegal aliens. Their courageous mothers had something to say to @SelenaGomez and those who oppose securing our borders."
Mothers of victims speak out
The White House video featured grieving mothers, often referred to as "Angel Moms," who accused Gomez of misplacing her empathy. Alexis Nungaray, mother of one victim, questioned the sincerity of Gomez’s emotions, stating, "Seeing the video, it’s actually hard to believe it’s genuine and real because she’s an actress."
Another mother, Tammy Nobles, whose daughter was killed in a violent attack, asked, "You don’t know who you’re crying for? What about our children who were brutally murdered, raped, and beaten to death?"
Their frustration reflected a broader political divide over immigration policies, victim representation, and where public sympathy should be directed.
Public and celebrity reactions
Gomez deleted her original video after facing backlash but later defended herself, saying, "Apparently it’s not okay to show empathy for people."
Actress Chrissy Teigen came to Gomez’s defence, mocking the White House for engaging in the debate. She wrote, "Having empathy is now something gross and weird. We love you @selenagomez, and boy does the White House have a lot of time on its hands for the dumbest thing ever."
The clash has ignited debates on social media, with many criticizing the White House for focusing on a celebrity rather than pressing national issues.
Others argue that Gomez’s remarks ignored the pain of crime victims and their families.
