Selena Gomez's Kidney Donor Was Reportedly "Snubbed" for the Pop Star's Wedding

Last September 28, Selena Gomez tied the knot with fellow musician Benny Blanco with a romantic ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. The nuptials proved to be one of Hollywood's most star-studded gatherings, with both the bride and groom inviting some of the industry's biggest names. However, netizens noticed that an individual absent from the festivities was Francia Raisa, an actress who notably donated her kidney to Selena in 2017.

On the days leading up to Selena's big day, Francia told the press that she was "very happy for her" upon learning of the pop star's engagement. "She has a life and she is already a billionaire and I am grateful that I could do that for her," she said in a recent interview.

In 2017, Selena had to undergo a kidney transplant given the severe damage done by her autoimmune disease lupus. Francia was a viable donor and was contacted by Selena herself. From the get-go, the 37-year-old How I Met Your Father actress was told the implications of giving her kidney away.

"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 illustrated. "I am grateful that I am alive and I can say that I have saved a life.' "

Rumors of a rift between the two first circulated when Selena voiced out in a Rolling Stone interview that her "only friend in the industry" was Taylor Swift. Flames were fanned when fans had documentation of Selena smoking, which harms the kidney she was granted by Francia. To this, Francia says: "When that rumor came out that I had gotten angry or something like that because [Selena] was smoking, I wasn't aware of those rumors... No one knows what's going on, and neither she nor I are talking about it."

In December 2023, Francia admitted that she and Selena have not been the closest in past years, but they remain cordial to one another. "We hadn’t spoken much in six years. Especially [in] the last year, we didn’t speak at all," she details. The American-Mexican actress emphasizes that they "never really had beef with each other," noting how nothing caused a direct rift between them. Come 2024, she told E! News that they sustain their friendship even with long period of inactivity.

"Nothing happened... but we needed that time apart," shje states. "[It's] one of the best friendships that I know. [We] go a year without talking, and then when [we] see each other again, it’s like [we] never went a day without talking. So, that’s where it’s at."

Selena has yet to address Francia's absence from her wedding. Present at the ceremony, though, were the likes of Paul Rudd, Paris Hilton, Ed Sheeran, Ashley Park, and Martin Short.