On Nov. 4, Selena Gomez and Apple TV+ released the documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me.
The film offers a raw and intimate look at Selena's life between the years of 2016 and 2022, including her physical and mental health struggles with lupus, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
However, something fans have also taken note of is the doc's portrayal of Raquelle Stevens, one of Selena's longtime best friends.
There are a few scenes that stand out, like when Selena's feeling nervous before her speech at the McLean Psychiatric Hospital annual dinner — where she'll be sharing her mental health struggles and possibly her bipolar diagnosis for the first time — and Raquel walks into the room, barely acknowledging her existence.
Or when Selena and Raquelle are on their philanthropic trip to Kenya, and Raquelle's quick to remind her that despite what an amazing time she's having, it isn't "reality."
Or when Selena's doing press in London after Kenya, and Raquelle implies that Selena's complaining because she doesn't want to go to a birthday dinner the night they get back to LA.
People on Twitter definitely took notice and quickly pointed out that Raquelle might not be giving Selena the support she needs:
Watching the Selena Gomez documentary and she really needs to drop that “friend” Raquelle
something about that Raquelle girl in selena gomez’s new documentary gives me bad vibes . ESPECIALLY when she walked in the room and didn’t acknowledge Selena until Selena acknowledged her first.
Raquelle is really playing up to the cameras in this documentary. The concerns she is expressing are very unfair. She is trying to appear as if she’s super caring, but she’s pushing Selena’s limits and giving her absolutely no true support. It’s sad to see. #MyMindAndMe
just because raquelle has been through everything with selena, it doesn’t take away that she can be so toxic, dismissive, controlling, and passive aggressive towards selena #MyMindAndMe
That whole scene with Raquelle was insane. I have a heart condition and for me just doing ONE outing can be physically exhausting. Selena has a medical condition, severe jet lag, and wants to take care of her body and somehow that’s UNGRATEFUL? #MyMindAndMe #SelenaGomez
However, others defended and even praised Raquelle for her treatment of Selena in the documentary:
Watching the @selenagomez documentary, and frankly Raquelle Stevens is such a deep and emotionally intelligent person. She really guided Selena through some very difficult moments. #MyMindAndMe
I'm sorry for the rant, but as someone who is best friends with someone who has a mental illness, for whom I can also not be emotionally available 24/7 & tells them the hard truth when neccessary, it angers me the way people paint Raquelle to be a bad friend #MyMindAndMe
In 2019, Selena and Raquelle spoke publicly about their friendship on an episode of Raquelle's Giving Back Generation podcast. In the episode, Selena said, "When we decided to do this, it’s because I want there to be more friendships like this. ... I hope what the takeaway from this as well is that we just want — I want to be an example of friendship and what it can look like, and the importance."
And Raquelle later added, "I want to see more friendships like this. I want to see people embrace qualities like forgiveness, and vulnerability, and authenticity. I just think it’s so important."
You can stream Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me on Apple TV+.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-888-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.