When former Disney star Selena Gomez returned to scripted television in 2021 with Only Murders in the Building, nearly a decade after Wizards of Waverly Place, the internet was divided about the casting.
Over the five seasons of the mystery comedy-drama, Gomez’s “poker face” and “throaty voice” drew both praise and criticism.
Some argued it was a deliberate choice for her character, Mabel Mora, and others claimed it “ruined” the series for them.
In October 2026, ahead of the show’s season 6 premiere on December 8, a montage of her previous-season scenes went viral, flooding the internet with trolling comments.
“She has the talent of a wet paper towel,” one user commented.
Fans blasted Selena Gomez’s “flat as a pancake” performance
The show, which also features veteran comedy actors Steve Martin (Charles-Haden Savage) and Martin Short (Oliver Putnam), follows three main characters as they investigate homicides in their New York apartment, Arconia.
The series is one of Hulu’s most-watched and critically acclaimed original shows, receiving several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Gomez herself has received the nod multiple times in the Lead Actress category.
Still, her portrayal of Mabel Mora has remained a subject of debate, as the recent video made clear.
“She gets all of these sympathy award nominations, but this performance doesn’t deserve anything,” one netizen said. Another wrote, “She should retire from acting, because what the hell is this?”
One person argued that her character was the show’s “biggest flaw” and it would be “significantly better” if Gomez weren’t on it, saying, “Selena isn’t a great actress and she k*lls the comedic timing with characters.”
However, some came to her defense as well.
“This is the character. This is how she’s supposed to be,” one said. Another responded to the critics, “You could always stop watching the show.”
Gomez finally revealed what caused her “hoarse” voice after years of fan speculation
One of the biggest talking points was her gruff, raspy delivery, which many argued “only got worse” over the seasons.
“Has she been s**king on helium or something?” one netizen complained. Another said, “Why is she not enunciating her words and slurring everything?”
“That f*cka** voice, oh my god, keep her away from our ears!” a third wrote. A fourth wondered, “How did her entire speech pattern change?”
The question has kept her fans speculating for a long time, given she had a higher-pitched, clearer, and more expressive vocal tone during her Disney Channel era and early pop career.
Selena Gomez opens up about how vaping nicotine changed her voice:
“I’m not gonna be able to change my voice. Nicotine is so hard to quit… It’s just not worth it. […] I’m really excited because I stopped, and I just hope I can keep it up.” pic.twitter.com/w4euexYK51
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 19, 2026
The Same Old Love singer recently addressed the matter in an Instagram Story on October 18, revealing that inhaling nicotine is what affected her voice to this extent.
“I vaped nicotine a lot. Nicotine is so hard to quit, and I think I just wanted to say, if you’re going through it, or if you’re even trying to vape, it’s just not worth it,” she said. “It’s so stupid, and it’s changed my voice.”
However, she has now quit and is trying not to relapse: “I stopped, and I just hope we can keep it up. It’s really hard.”
A doctor explained why vaping could’ve affected Gomez’s voice
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100 million people worldwide use vape products.
Dr. Paul Kwak, an otolaryngologist at NYU Langone’s Voice Center, told Today.com the reason why vaping could permanently alter a person’s voice after long-term use.
“People think if they vape, it’s going to be much, much less injurious to the voice. From a vocal health standpoint, it’s not,” Dr. Kwak said. “And the primary reason for that is because it’s hot, dry air on the lining of the airway.”
Inhaling and exhaling the chemical-filled aerosol can dry out the larynx and trachea’s tissues and mucous membranes and cause inflammation, Kwak explained.
Gomez also has lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, organs, and cells instead of protecting them, causing widespread inflammation and damage to skin, joints, blood, kidneys, heart, and lungs.
She was diagnosed with it in 2013, underwent chemotherapy, and has spoken openly about her condition since 2015.
The disease forced her to get a kidney transplant in 2017, caused body image issues, and led to mental health problems, including bipolar disorder, which she found out in 2020 after being misdiagnosed by multiple therapists.
“Her acting is so bad,” one user said
