Francia Raisa, who donated a kidney to Selena Gomez in 2017, has broken her silence following her absence from the singer's wedding to Benny Blanco. The 37-year-old actress addressed speculation of a rift after fans noticed Gomez vaping in behind-the-scenes footage shared on Instagram.
In the footage, Gomez appeared to be holding a vape device while getting ready, and attempted to conceal it when she realised she was being filmed. Fans captured screenshots and shared them on social media, with reactions ranging from amusement to criticism. One user commented, 'The vape is crazy,' while another said, 'Now why is Miss Selena puffing on a Juul in the year 2025.'
This is not the first time Gomez has been seen vaping; in June, a fan account showed her exhaling vapour while having her hair and makeup done. Gomez, who has lupus and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, has previously been criticised for smoking, which can be harmful to transplant recipients.
Raisa, who donated a kidney to Gomez, addressed the situation in a recent interview. Speaking in Spanish, she said she was happy for Gomez's marriage and expressed gratitude for being able to save a life. She denied being angry about the vaping photos, stating, 'No one knows what's going on and neither she nor I are talking about it.'
Raisa also emphasised that organ donation is about saving a life, not forming a special bond. In a 2018 interview, she revealed that both she and Gomez experienced depression after the transplant, which nearly cost Gomez her life due to a burst artery during surgery.
