Francia Raísa recently opened up about how she and Selena Gomez repaired their friendship earlier this year, following a period of limited communication since 2017. In a recent interview with USA Today, the 35-year-old actress, known for her role in How I Met Your Father, explained how they took some time apart from each other to grow individually. Raísa expressed her surprise at the public’s investment in their friendship, stating, “It’s still unbelievable to me that people were so interested in our friendship… I don’t know why the timing worked out the way it did, but I remember being in St. Tropez in June and I couldn’t stop talking about her.” She added that they hadn’t communicated much in six years, with no contact at all in the last year. However, after Gomez wrote a heartfelt tribute to Raísa on her 35th birthday in July, Raísa felt that “the universe decided this timing” to bring them back together.
Francia Raisa recently opened up about her renewed friendship with Selena Gomez, shedding light on how they managed to mend their relationship after a period of limited communication since 2017. According to Raisa, it was Gomez who took the initiative and reached out to her, suggesting that they have a conversation. They met over dinner and came to the mutual understanding that there was no real issue between them, just some minor disagreements. Raisa emphasized that they never had any major conflicts and couldn’t pinpoint exactly what caused their time apart. However, she believes that the break was necessary and ultimately made them both better individuals. As they reconnect, Raisa expressed that they are still in the process of getting to know each other again. She mentioned that people often ask her if she regrets donating her kidney to Gomez, but she firmly states that their bond has always been strong and that their temporary rift had nothing to do with the transplant. Back in 2017, Raisa made the selfless decision to donate her kidney to Gomez, who was struggling with organ damage caused by her lupus condition at the young age of 24.
Retrospective: In a recent interview with USA Today, the 35-year-old star of How I Met Your Father opened up about her past disagreement with the 31-year-old two-time Grammy nominee. They decided to take some time apart from each other in order to grow individually. There were rumors that Raisa had felt pressured into going through with something and had taken issue with Gomez’s lifestyle choices following the transplant. Tensions also arose last year when Gomez stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that Taylor Swift, not Raisa, was her only friend in Hollywood. Although Raisa acknowledged that their relationship is not flawless, she emphasized that Gomez is like a younger sister to her and they will always support one another. Raisa reminisced about meeting Gomez 16 years ago when they were both starring on popular shows aimed at young audiences on ABC Family and Disney Channel. She explained that they first met during a visit to Children’s Hospital, organized by Disney, where they went to see the kids. This encounter led to regular conversations, hangouts, and the deepening of their friendship. However, it was their simultaneous breakups that truly strengthened their bond.
“It’s absolutely mind-boggling to think that there was genuine interest in our bond,” expressed the actress, while reflecting on the past. “The circumstances around our reconnection remain a mystery to me, but I distinctly recall being in St. Tropez in June, obsessively mentioning her name,” she shared with the publication. “For six long years, our communication had been scarce. In fact, during the last year, there was no communication whatsoever.”
In a heartfelt tribute on Raísa’s 35th birthday, Gomez expressed her belief that the timing of their reunion was orchestrated by the universe. Both of them were going through breakups at the time, and they found solace in each other’s company. They formed a strong bond, although they also faced challenges along the way. Despite the ups and downs, their relationship is built on sisterly love and support. Raisa believes that spending time apart is important for personal growth and that their issues had nothing to do with the kidney transplant. She credited Gomez for being a tremendous support system during her personal struggles. Now that they are in their thirties, both Gomez and Raisa are eager to rediscover each other and nurture their friendship. Raisa commended Gomez for her efforts in raising awareness for mental health through the Rare Impact Fund, and she credited Gomez for inspiring her to open up about her own journey with mental health.
A lifesaving act occurred when Raisa selflessly donated her kidney to save the life of a famous Disney Channel star. The star, who was just 24 years old at the time, was suffering from organ damage due to her lupus diagnosis. Raisa and the star, Gomez, had formed a strong bond since their meeting in 2007 and even attended various glamorous events together. In 2017, the kidney transplant took place, and Gomez shared a heartwarming photo of the two lying in hospital beds, exchanging cheerful glances. She publicly expressed her immense gratitude towards Raisa for her selfless act and felt incredibly blessed to have found such a generous donor. To commemorate the remarkable sacrifice made by Raisa, both of them decided to get matching tattoos, representing the date of the surgery. Unfortunately, their relationship faced difficulties in the years that followed, which led to a feud and months of tension. Rumors circulated that Raisa was upset with Gomez’s post-transplant partying habits, with her father even stating that Raisa had expressed her disapproval, reminding Gomez that she hadn’t donated the kidney so she could engage in reckless behavior like drinking.
Tension arose when rumors circulated that Francia, who had donated a kidney to Gomez, was upset that Gomez was seen partying after the transplant. Francia’s father even claimed that Francia had told Selena that she never gave her the kidney so she could go out and drink. This supposedly led to a strained relationship between them. However, they reconciled in 2018 when Gomez faced a mental breakdown and sought help at a facility.
The tension resurfaced in 2022 when Francia stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that she doesn’t have any famous friends other than Taylor Swift. E! News shared a portion of the quote on Instagram, and in a now-deleted comment, Francia wrote, ‘Interesting.’ Gomez later made a TikTok video seemingly referring to Francia’s response and explained that she couldn’t mention every person she knows in the interview.
To add more fuel to the fire, Gomez didn’t mention Francia when discussing her mental and physical health in her Apple TV+ documentary, My Mind And Me. However, Francia has insisted in multiple interviews this year that there is no animosity between her and Gomez.
Throughout multiple interviews this year, Raisa has consistently emphasized the absence of any animosity between her and the talented Rare singer.
Battle of the Best Friends: In late 2022, tensions escalated after the actress from Monte Carlo revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that, apart from Taylor Swift, she doesn’t have any famous friends. Additionally, during an appearance on the Good Guys Podcast, she debunked rumors that she was coerced into undergoing a transplant surgery. Emphasizing her genuine willingness, she shared with the hosts that she felt it deep within her heart that she was a match and that it was meant to happen. She explained that her decision came from the kindness of her heart, and she has been extremely grateful ever since.
During an episode of the Apple TV+ series Dear…, Gomez expressed her gratitude for Raisa’s selfless act and openly discussed the life-saving transplant. She revealed that it was Raisa who took the initiative to get tested as a potential kidney donor. Gomez also marveled at the fact that Raisa didn’t hesitate or doubt her decision, describing it as an overwhelmingly touching moment. She felt a sense of divine protection and believed that she would forever be indebted to Raisa for her generosity.
Fortunately, it seems that any differences between the two have been resolved, as they have been seen spending time together in recent months, including a memorable bowling alley outing in LA last August. To add to their reconciliation, Raisa recently re-followed Gomez on Instagram.