Ever since Only Murders in the Building hit Hulu, fans have been noticing something different about Mabel Mora—specifically, the woman behind her. It isn't just a new acting style. People keep flooding TikTok and Reddit asking the same question: why does Selena Gomez talk so slow now?
If you watch her early interviews from the Wizards of Waverly Place era, she was fast. High energy. Snappy. Today, her cadence is lower, her delivery is more deliberate, and sometimes her voice sounds a bit gravelly or "congested."
Honestly, the internet can be a pretty cruel place. When you're in the spotlight, every blink is analyzed. But for Selena, the shift in her speech isn't some "Hollywood affectation" or a lack of interest in her work. It’s actually tied to a decade-long medical battle that would have sidelined most people completely.
The Reality of Chronic Inflammation
Basically, it all comes down to Lupus. Selena was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease back in 2014, and it has been a rollercoaster ever since. Lupus isn't just about being tired; it’s an all-out war where the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues.
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In a recent Instagram Live from late 2025, Selena actually addressed the voice speculation head-on. She mentioned that her "throat kind of swells inside sometimes." That’s inflammation in a nutshell. When your vocal folds or the surrounding tissues in your throat are inflamed, you can't exactly belt out words with the same speed or clarity you had at eighteen.
It makes sense. If your throat feels tight or swollen, you're going to speak slower to get the words out clearly. It's a physical limitation, not a personality change.
The "Moon Face" and Medication Side Effects
You've probably seen the "moon face" comments. It’s a term used to describe the facial swelling that comes from long-term steroid use, specifically prednisone. Selena has been very open about being on various medications to keep her lupus flares in check and to prevent her body from rejecting her 2017 kidney transplant.
These meds are literal lifesavers, but they come with a heavy price tag:
- Shaky hands: She once posted a TikTok where her hands were visibly trembling while doing her skincare, later explaining it’s a direct side effect of her medication.
- Brain fog: Lupus is famous for "Lupus Fog," which makes it hard to find the right words or process thoughts quickly.
- Vocal fatigue: Some studies suggest that lupus patients experience lower vocal intensity and "jitters" in their speech patterns.
When you're dealing with all of that, talking at 100 mph isn't just difficult—it's exhausting.
Mental Health and the "Detox" Period
It’s also important to remember her journey with bipolar disorder. In her 2022 documentary My Mind & Me, Selena talked about the "cocktail" of medications she was put on during her 2018 psychotic episode. She described a period where she had to "detox" and essentially relearn how to remember certain words.
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She told Rolling Stone that she had a hard time accepting her diagnosis and that the meds made her feel like she wasn't "there" anymore. Eventually, she found a psychiatrist who helped her taper off the heavy stuff, but that kind of neurological strain leaves a mark.
Sometimes, when people talk slower, it’s because they are being incredibly intentional about every single word. They’re making sure they don’t lose their train of thought.
Why This Matters for Fans
We live in a culture that expects celebrities to stay frozen in time. We want the 2009 version of Selena forever. But she’s 33 now. She’s had a kidney transplant, survived a "rock bottom" mental health crisis, and lives with a chronic illness that changes her physical appearance and voice on a weekly basis.
The "slow talk" is actually a sign of her resilience. She’s still showing up to sets. She’s still running a billion-dollar beauty empire with Rare Beauty. She’s just doing it at a pace that her body allows.
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What to Keep in Mind
If you’re someone living with a chronic illness, or if you’re just a fan trying to understand, here are the real takeaways from Selena’s health journey:
- Medication is a trade-off. Sometimes the drug that keeps your organs functioning is the same one that makes your voice raspier or your face swell. It's a choice between "looking normal" and "staying alive."
- Inflammation is invisible. Just because someone looks okay on a red carpet doesn't mean their throat isn't swelling or their joints aren't screaming.
- Grace is necessary. Selena’s "new" voice is just her current reality. It hasn't stopped her from delivering some of the best performances of her career in Only Murders in the Building.
Next time you see a clip and wonder why does Selena Gomez talk so slow now, remember that she’s navigating a biological minefield. She isn't "fading"—she's adapting.
If you want to support others going through similar battles, looking into the Lupus Foundation of America is a great place to start. They provide resources for patients dealing with the exact same vocal and physical side effects Selena faces every day.