Weeks after Selena Gomez married music producer Benny Blanco in a star-studded California wedding, attention turned to the noticeable absence of one person: actress Francia Raisa. Raisa, 37, who famously donated a kidney to Gomez in 2017 after the singer’s battle with lupus, set the record straight in a new interview on the ongoing rumors of a rift in their complex friendship.
The buzz around the two women reached a fever pitch following Gomez’s wedding in Santa Barbara, which was attended by close friends like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. However, in a quirky, newly resurfaced interview filmed at a bookstore before the nuptials, the How I Met Your Father star gave her honest take on the situation, clearing up talk of a “feud” and offering her best wishes for the bride.
Speaking in Spanish, Raisa directly addressed Gomez’s major life update, emphasizing that her act of kindness back in 2017 came with no expectations. “I know she’s getting married, and I’m very happy for her. And look… she has a life and she is already a billionaire and I am grateful that I could do that for her,” Raisa said, according to translated subtitles.
She went on to compare organ donation to a financial contribution when discussing the media’s focus on her relationship with the new Mrs. Benny Blanco. “Look, from the beginning the doctors told me, it’s a donation,” Raisa explained. “If you are going to donate a dollar to St. Jude or somewhere else, you’re not going to call to say, ‘Hey, what are you doing with my dollar?’ It’s a donation and it’s something nice that I was able to do,” she continued, “I am grateful that I am alive and I can say that I have saved a life.”
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The drama intensified over the years with claims that Raisa was “angry” over the way Gomez was treating her body post-transplant. Raisa gave a forceful response to this speculation, stating she had not given any public comment on the matter.
“Well, right now what you are asking me is nonsense that has been in the media, and there are too many rumors,” Raisa responded. “I’ve never said anything.” She added that when the rumors about her being upset over Gomez smoking came out, “I wasn’t aware of those rumors.”
Raisa wrapped up the mystery surrounding their friendship by insisting that their connection remains private, even with the intense public scrutiny. “No one knows what’s going on, and neither she nor I are talking about it,” she shared. “One day, maybe we will address it.”
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
