Francia Raisa and Selena Gomez’s fall out: How pair went from kidney donor best friends to feuding

When Selena Gomez was fighting for her life due to the auto-immune disease lupus – her best friend Francia Raisa swooped in and saved her by donating her kidney to the singer, seemingly sealing their bond as ‘sisters’ for good.

But five years after the ‘life-saving’ operation, the former best friends appear to be embroiled in a bitter feud online – and this isn’t the first time they’ve had a public falling out.

The two stars first met at a charity event all the way back in 2007, and they quickly formed a strong bond – becoming practically inseparable overnight, gushing about one another nonstop in interviews and online, and even describing each other as ‘sisters’ on numerous occasions.

And when Selena, now 30, became gravely ill from her lupus in 2017, Francia, now 34, gave her the ‘ultimate gift’ by ‘volunteering’ to donate her kidney to the singer – something that should have brought them even closer, but actually ignited a fierce rift between the best friends months later.

Francia, who later revealed that she severely struggled with her physical and mental health after the operation, reportedly became enraged when Selena was spotted drinking alcohol during a wild night out at the Four Seasons hotel in New York City one year after the transplant.

The two ladies allegedly got into a massive blow out over Selena’s ‘unhealthy choices,’ however, after she decided to check herself into a treatment center in October 2018, she and Francia became close again. They even went on to get matching tattoos in December 2019, and earlier this year, they posted an adorable TikTok video together, proving that they were still as close as could be.

However, now, the two appear to be at odds for a second time, after Selena completely snubbed the actress in her new Apple TV+ documentary, My Mind & Me. 

In the movie, the Lose You to Love me songstress detailed her health struggles, but she gave no mention of Francia – and to make matters worse, she listed Taylor Swift as her only celebrity friend during an interview with Rolling Stone while promoting the doc.

Soon after its premiere, Francia unfollowed her former bestie on Instagram, and left a scathing response to Selena’s ‘interesting’ comment about her lack of friends in the industry.

As the two stars erupt in a shocking brawl, FEMAIL has taken a look back at the ups and downs of their relationship. From their first meeting and instant connection when they were just teens to Francia’s decision to donate her kidney to Selena and why she was unhappy with her afterwards, here’s everything we know about their bond – as well as what ultimately tore it apart and lead to their recent spat.

Where it all began: How the two stars met at a charity event and became like ‘sisters’

Selena and Francia met back in 2007, when they both attended the same charity event. At the time, both ladies were just starting out in their careers – Selena, 15 at the time, had just landed her breakout role in Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, while Francia, 19 at the time, was gearing up to star in ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

And according to the actress, they ‘clicked’ immediately. Francia told Latina in 2013: ‘Six years ago Disney and ABC Family had the stars of their shows go to the Children’s Hospital. Selena and I were in the same group and we just clicked.’

Right away, the two stars formed a strong bond – and they were spotted hanging out numerous times in the early years of their friendship. They were caught by photographers visiting popular celeb hotspots together on many occasions, and they also often appeared on each other’s social media accounts.

The women even made sure to support each other’s work online; when a new seasons of Secret Life premiered in March 2011, Selena tweeted, ‘Everyone should watch @TheRealFrancia on the season premiere of Secret Life Tonight,’ and when the Lose You to Love Me songstress’ movie Monte Carlo came out a few months later, Francia wrote, ‘Monte Carlo is finally out in theaters. Support my girl @SelenaGomez.’ 

The actresses referred to each other as ‘sisters’ many times during their friendship. Francia told Wetpaint in 2012: ‘I love her to death. She’s my sister and she is one of the sweetest girls I know. She is so caring and so loving and so nurturing. She’s awesome. I don’t know where she came from.’

And when Selena celebrated her birthday in 2014, Francia echoed those sentiments in a touching Instagram post, which has since been deleted. 

‘When we first met, you gave me a necklace that says, “A sister is a forever friend.” Your support and words this night meant the world to me. I love you sis! My forever friend,’ she gushed.

Selena recalled Francia staying by her side throughout ‘so many phases’ of her life in a 2015 Instagram post honoring the Secret Life star’s birthday.

‘Francia, you have been there through so many phases of life with me. The only thing I want you to know is how much I value YOU. You are more than you realize. I love you,’ she wrote at the time.

And in a now-deleted 2016 Instagram post, Francia shed some more light on their adorable friendship. She revealed that Selena rushed to help her after she went through a heartbreak, and thanked the pop star for always making time for her despite her busy schedule.

‘I went through heartbreak this year and you left the studio and drove out of your way to come see me and comfort me. I received good news last month and you FaceTimed me minutes before you went up on stage just to congratulate me,’ she said. 

‘There are so many moments we have and things you do that I cherish and don’t take for granted. Whether it’s crying, laughing, or simply sitting on my kitchen floor throwing our hands up in the air confused at life, I’m thankful you’re always there. 

‘I am obsessed with every memory we’ve built in the last eight years and the ones we have yet to create. I am so grateful that God put you in my life when he did. 

‘If you think about the time that we met and where we were in our lives when we first hung out, his timing was perfect. It’s been so inspiring watching you grow and to grow with you. I learn so much from you and I’m so so so proud of you.’

Francia’s selfless donation: Why she decided to give Selena her kidney, which ultimately saved the singer’s life

In 2017, Francia made a ‘life-saving’ sacrifice for her friend by donating her kidney to her. Selena was diagnosed with the auto-immune disease lupus in 2015, and by 2017, it had become so severe that she needed a new kidney. And when she was told it could take seven to 10 years for her to make her way to the top of the donation list, Francia stepped in to help.

‘I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of,’ Selena wrote in an Instagram post after the surgery.

‘So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you.

‘Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. 

‘And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.’

Afterwards, Francia spoke out in detail about her decision to give Selena the kidney, and she told the Today show that she didn’t even think twice about helping her pal.

‘One day [Selena] came home and she was emotional. I hadn’t asked anything. I knew she hadn’t been feeling well,’ she recalled.

‘She couldn’t open a water bottle one day. She chucked it and she started crying. And I said, “What’s wrong?” and that’s when she told me. And she goes, “I don’t know what to do. The list is seven to ten years long.” It just vomited out of me – I was like, “Of course I’ll get tested.”

‘I never regretted it, at all. I’m really honored and grateful that I was able to do that for her. It was never a question, never a regret.’ 

Selena added: ‘The thought of asking someone to do that was really difficult for me. She volunteered. The fact that she was a match, that’s unbelievable. That’s not real. She did [save my life]. That’s it.’

After the surgeries, Selena’s mother, Mandy Teefey, wrote that she ‘gained another daughter’ in an emotional tribute to Francia.

‘Selena gained a kidney, I was able to keep my little girl, but I also gained another daughter,’ she said on Instagram in 2017. ‘Thank you to everyone who was there for Sel, Francia, and our families. We survived from all the love, prayers, and God.’

And when the singer was awarded with the Billboard Woman of the Year award later that year, Selena dedicated her win to Francia.

‘To be honest, I think Francia should be getting this award because she saved my life,’ she said during her speech.

Plus, in January 2018, Francia credited Selena with being a ‘huge help in her career’ during an interview with Rogue magazine. 

‘I’ve seen her grow and she’s seen me grow and we have a lot of conversations about the industry,’ she added. ‘In seeing how much she has to go through … I’ve learned a lot myself, and so I’m really grateful to her and what she’s confided in me and taught me.’

The first fall out: How Selena’s ‘unhealthy choices’ post-surgery led to a massive feud between her and Francia

But in late 2018, the ladies had a major falling out – after Francia allegedly ‘called’ Selena ‘out’ for making ‘unhealthy choices’ following the kidney transplant surgery.

Selena was spotted partying it up at a New York City hotel in the summer of 2018, and RadarOnline reported that Francia was not a fan of her drinking.

The publication claimed that Francia confronted Selena about it, which lead to a massive fight between them, with Selena ultimately ‘shutting Francia out.’

‘Selena did the exact opposite of what she said she was going to do when she got well again. She said she was not going to drink anymore, but she did,’ an insider told the outlet. 

‘[Francia] cares about her and she loves her. She told her that she was just really making some unhealthy choices, and that she was concerned for her.’

Francia later revealed that she struggled mentally and physically after the surgery, telling Self magazine that she ‘went through a depression’ in the months that followed the transplant.

‘It was hard. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to drink anything,’ she said. She also said in another interview that she was so weak she ‘couldn’t pick up her dog,’ who is only 16 pounds.

Selena checked herself into a ‘wellness facility’ in October 2018, where she stayed for ‘several months,’ and while RadarOnline said she was in a much ‘better place’ following her time at the treatment center, a source told them in early 2019 that they weren’t sure if Selena and Francia would be able to fix things.

‘Selena is in a better place. But because of everything that they’ve been through together, Selena doesn’t know if she can ever really be a part of Francia’s life again,’ the insider revealed. 

Stronger than ever: How Selena and Francia found their way back to each other after their first falling out 

But by December 2019, the ladies were back in each other’s lives and their friendship was going strong again – since they revealed on social media that they had gotten matching tattoos of the date they got the kidney transplant surgery.

‘I actually got the date of when I got my kidney transplant. And did that with the girl that gave me the kidney,’ Selena said in a YouTube video.

In early 2020, Francia showed her support for Selena by gushing over her new album Rare to Entertainment Tonight. She joked: ‘I’m shaking my a** a lot when I listen to it.’

Then, in honor of World Kidney Day in March 2021, Selena proved the drama was officially behind them when she posted an emotional message to Francia in which she said she was ‘forever grateful’ for her.

‘Thank you for blessing me,’ she wrote. ‘I am forever grateful to you.’

Francia also attended Selena’s 30th birthday celebration earlier this year – and most recently, Francia and Selena teamed up to post a hilarious video together on TikTok in July 2022. 

Their recent blowout: How Selena threw subtle shade at Francia in her Rolling Stone interview – which left the actress furious

Despite everything seeming all good between them back in July, things have now appeared to go south once again – after Selena claimed her only true friend in the industry was Taylor.

‘I never fit in with a cool group of girls that were celebrities. My only friend in the industry really is Taylor,’ she told Rolling Stone during a recent interview.

She spoke about receiving the kidney throughout the interview, but did not mention Francia being her donor. She also did not mention her once during her new documentary, My Mind & Me.  

Francia certainly appeared unamused by Selena’s statement. She commented the word ‘interesting’ on a post shared by E! New detailing Selena’s claim to Rolling Stone, and proceeded to unfollow her former friend; Selena still follows Francia on Instagram.

Afterwards, Selena responded in a comment on TikTok, writing, ‘Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know.’