‘A lot of pressure’: Viewers savage Selena Gomez’s American Music Awards performance

Selena Gomez’s performance at the American Music Awards was branded ‘embarrassing’ and ‘horrible’. Now, sources close to the star have explained why.

It was billed as her big TV comeback but Selena Gomez’s performance at the American Music Awards was been branded “off-key” and “painful”.

Now, a source has claimed Gomez, 27, had severe anxiety and a panic attack before taking the stage at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.

Earlier, viewers had savaged her performance of Lose You to Love Me and Look at Her Now, calling it “horrible” and “embarrassing”.

“Selena definitely had anxiety and a panic attack before she went out and was putting a lot of pressure on herself,” a source told E!.

Another source told Us Weekly that Gomez “ultimately decided to push through and perform anyway”.

Selena Gomez was dragged for her AMAs performance, with a source claiming she had a panic attack before taking the stage. Picture: AFP

She sported a Versace minidress on the red carpet in Los Angeles yesterday. Picture: AFP

“She had rehearsed and was excited to get back on stage, but she got nervous right before because it’s been a while,” the source told Us Weekly.

The lyrics to Lose You to Love Me – rumoured to be about her ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber – actually references singing off-key.

“You promised the world and I fell for it. I put you first and you adored it. Set fires to my forest. And you let it burn. Sang off-key in my chorus. ’Cause it wasn’t yours,” Gomez sang to the audience at the Microsoft Theatre.

Gomez’s first TV performance in about two years was branded “terrible” and “cringe-worthy” on social media, though others praised her for delivering an “emotionally-charged” and “powerful” show, to a star-studded crowd including Taylor Swift and Halsey.

#SelenaGomez kicks off the #AMAs with an emotionally charged performance pic.twitter.com/qvSANpuSGM

— Mike Adam (@MikeAdamOnAir) November 25, 2019

Um no, that was horrible. Worse than 2007 Britney VMA

— Cheeks (@MyNameIsCheeks) November 25, 2019

It was terrible

— mcnicarambeau (@thomas75175892) November 25, 2019

Did I hear her right off key on her first song or am I wrong. Still love her.

— itsJustLei (@dazzlinlei) November 25, 2019

It was so embarrassing
Like i love you Selena but that wasn't good at all
You can do better

— infinity cat (@br4yl1n) November 25, 2019

SHE TOTALY DID IT WE ARE SO PROUD!!!!!!! #AMAs #SelenaOnAMAs pic.twitter.com/Eja4IYUG1y

— vic (@whosaysrare) November 25, 2019

Of course, Gomez recently stood up for Swift during her bitter war-of-words with music mogul Scoot Braun, over the sale of Swift’s masters.

Speaking about Swift, Gomez described her as “the most dedicated, fearless, feisty, strongest woman” and hoped there would be a “change of heart over this unfortunate situation”. Earlier, Gomez strutted the red carpet wearing a neon-green Versace mini-dress (complete with Medusa buttons), teamed with a pair of matching citrus-coloured stilettos, from the brand’s spring/summer 2020 collection.

MORE NEWS

INSANE DEMAND FOR MEGHAN’S $44 RING

KIM REVEALS SECRET BEHIND KANYE MARRIAGE

MODELS BREAK SILENCE OVER BONDS AD

Costume change! Picture: Getty Images

Taylor Swift and Halsey supported Selena from the audience. Picture: Getty Images

Glittering in silver! Picture: AP

All smiles! Picture: Getty Images

Meantime, Swift gave a powerful performance at the AMAs, where she was honoured with Artist of the Decade, amid her messy feud with Braun.

The 29-year-old pop star opened her career-spanning medley pointedly, performing the chorus of new album track The Man, a song about her frustration with sexist double standards.

She was dressed in what looked almost like a straight-jacket, emblazoned with the titles of her previous albums she no longer owns, as she sang:

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can / Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man

And I’m so sick of them coming at me again / ‘Cause if I was a man then I’d be the man”

After winning Artist of the Year, Swift delved a little deeper into one of the “hardest” years of her life.

‘Off-key’. Selena Gomez failed to impress at the American Music Awards. Picture: Getty Images

She opened the show, held at the Microsoft Theatre. Picture: AFP

“The last year of my life has had the most amazing times and the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life, and not a lot of them have not been public,” she said.

“Your stock is either up or down, people either like you or don’t, but the ones who’ve hung in there with you are the ones you never forget.

“This year has been a lot. it’s been a lot of good, and a lot of really complicated. On behalf of my family and me, thank you so much for being there and caring.”

Swift’s medley, in full was Love Story, I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, Shake It Off with Halsey and Camilla Cabello, and Lover.