Selena Gomez on Secretly Fighting for Human Trafficking Victims: 'I Can't Be Silent About This'

Melody Chiu
Updated

Selena Gomez‘s personal life may often take center stage, but there’s one passion the superstar has managed to keep secret for the last six months: her work with anti-human-trafficking nonprofit A21.

In her new cover interview with Elle, the “Back to You” singer, 26, opens up about volunteering for the organization and why she’s kept her involvement under wraps — until now.

“I wasn’t going to immediately start discussing it. It’s out of my comfort zone,” says Gomez, who is the face of Coach and has a new collection with the brand. “I needed to be fully immersed in it.”

The entertainer also understands there will be naysayers who claim she is now speaking out to get attention, but “that’s not why I want to talk about it,” she says. “I can’t be silent about this.”

Alright. Speaking from my heart for over an hour to someone who puts those thoughts into paid words can be hard for me. The older I get the more I want my voice to be mine. This is all apart of my work within an industry that’s been around longer than all of us have been. The purpose of my interview was three fold. My work with A21, my new collection with Coach, and some new music. As I’m aware there will always be interests in one’s personal life because that’s the pace of our ‘social’ generation. I’m grateful for my position and I will always find ways to make my job more about others and giving back— all while having the best time with my music, fashion, film and my love for learning about the world that I’m eager to tap into more and more. Church is a name for something far more personal. There’s always agenda seeking information on such a subject and I understand why. Rarely do I mention church (and I didn’t) but I’ll always feel comfortable talking about my values and beliefs. I respect that from everyone and anyone. I understand that reporters are working to grab the attention of a reader, however I will always work to ensure that what is public represents my truth. I’m a bit bummed but rarely surprised. Y’all know me and my heart. I can’t help it. So I’ll post some of MY photos from the collection and work with A21. My heart. And maybe edit my actual lyrics as you will all hear it soon ???? I love you guys to the moon and back. For more information on the work I do with A21 please, please visit link in my bio. So much more on that soon!

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 4, 2018 at 9:10am PDT

Alright. Speaking from my heart for over an hour to someone who puts those thoughts into paid words can be hard for me. The older I get the more I want my voice to be mine. This is all apart of my work within an industry that’s been around longer than all of us have been. The purpose of my interview was three fold. My work with A21, my new collection with Coach, and some new music. As I’m aware there will always be interests in one’s personal life because that’s the pace of our ‘social’ generation. I’m grateful for my position and I will always find ways to make my job more about others and giving back— all while having the best time with my music, fashion, film and my love for learning about the world that I’m eager to tap into more and more. Church is a name for something far more personal. There’s always agenda seeking information on such a subject and I understand why. Rarely do I mention church (and I didn’t) , but I’ll always feel comfortable talking about my values and beliefs. I respect that from everyone and anyone. I understand that reporters are working to grab the attention of a reader, however I will always work to ensure that what is public represents my truth. I’m a bit bummed but rarely surprised. Y’all know me and my heart. I can’t help it. So I’ll post some of MY photos from the collection and work with A21. My heart. And maybe edit my actual lyrics as you will all hear it soon ???? I love you guys to the moon and back. For more information on the work I do with A21 please, please visit link in my bio. So much more on that soon!

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 4, 2018 at 9:03am PDT

According to the outlet, Gomez began working with A21 in March after being introduced to the organization by co-founder Christine Caine, a friend the star met through church.

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“The idea of human trafficking to me is … I’m flabbergasted,” says Gomez — who has her own key to their Southern California office — about women and young children who are forced into sexual slavery.

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After a year filled with ups and downs, the 13 Reasons Why producer says she’s more inspired than ever to make a difference with her platform.

Says the star, who shared more photos and videos on Tuesday from her trips with A21: “I had been working for so long, and I don’t like taking things in my life. I just wanted to serve.”