Selena Gomez Talks Parents' Divorce: 'I Blamed My Mom A Lot' (VIDEO)

In an E! Entertainment special that aired Wednesday night, teen queen Selena Gomez opened up about her parents' divorce.

Gomez, who was 5-year-old when her parents split, blamed her mother for the divorce--something she deeply regrets.

"I blamed my mom a lot [for the divorce] because I wanted a family so bad," Gomez said. "I wanted to have my mom and dad together. I remember just being angry with my mom. I still feel really bad about that."

Her mother Mandy Teefey, who became pregnant at age 16, recounts her daughter's difficulty coping with the split. "[Selena] would vent and yell at me and all I could do is just say, 'I'm sorry--but you'll understand someday,'" she said.

Today, Gomez defends single-parenthood and is grateful for her mother's many sacrifices.

"Having me at sixteen had to have been a big responsibility. My mom gave up everything for me and had, like, three jobs. She supported me, sacrificed her life for me," she said.

WATCH:

Comments

[Wyattspoppa]

08:39 AM on 07/05/2011

One seriously self-absorbed young lady. To have her friend on camera crying for Selena's great trauma? It bastardizes the entire message. Way to villianize her mom while "apologizing" for being bratty a the same time. Do you know the divorce rate little girl,? You're the majority not some underprivileged emotionally abused statistic. While I think her mother's cavalier attutude about marriage is in question, Selena chose a completely inappropriate forum to say she felt badly, it detracts from her message. "Mom, I want to say I'm sorry for being difficult as a child, but I want to do it on camera ok"? Nothing like profiteering from this! Shame on you young lady, keep your clothes on and your mouth shut. Starving, homeless kids across the nation and we get to watch Selena's friend cry for her great suffering

[kat25923]

12:58 AM on 07/05/2011

you better believe she regrets dumping all that guilt on her mom.... it is natural for kids to want their mom and dad to stay together so you can't blame Selena as a little 5year old for wanting that, however, just as her mom said, she would understand when she got older that when a marriage is over it's OVER, and staying in an unhealthy marriage is NEVER a good idea...so, good for her mom for doing the right thing.

[Aaron Hetzel]

12:51 AM on 07/05/2011

Man, that is something.

I'll be honest with you guys. I'm one of those people who've never really like Beiber, but not for the reason most would think. I've never had a problem with his music, I've heard worse. The only reason really is cuz he's always been so close with Selena. I knew they'd end up together way back when I saw them singing on that one New Years. I know it ain't much of a reason, but just thought I'd throw it out there.


It'd be nice though if someone came along one day with that kind of celebrity status who wasn't rich, didn't have a sob story or rags-to-riches story, didn't have some kind of famous family lineage, or someone who didn't have such a rockin' body...just a normal person with some descent acting skills, ya know?

[myviews]

01:09 AM on 07/05/2011

Danny Devito, Adam Shandler, Bette Midler, Barbra Steisand... Chris Martin... there are many.

[benandpogo]

05:15 AM on 07/05/2011

I suppose you mean Adam Sandler, who I think is the WORST thing to happen to entertainment ever. I have never heard one funny thing come out of his mouth. He is a ridiculous fool with a completely warped self-image. In his movies, he always has some gorgeous wife and is a tough guy of some sort. What a joke. He is the worst comedian and actor I have ever had the displeasure to see ruin a movie. Not that any movie he is in has much going for it anyway.

[delmarwood]

12:36 AM on 07/05/2011

awww poor little rich kid,,,im sure all the poor kids paying to see you really are hurting for your sad childhood

[tristin313]

01:41 AM on 07/05/2011

I'm sure she was SO rich growing up with divorced teenage parents.

[outerbanksfor5]

12:12 AM on 07/05/2011

meal ticket

[richar5795]

11:53 PM on 07/04/2011

Disney productions is just another sex, drugs and rock n roll company out to make a buck anyway it can. I'm surprised they have not taken all the old classics and redone them in porn.

[TopSgt]

11:47 PM on 07/04/2011

I guess It's just a matter of Time, before She gets Pregnant? Annette Funicello She's not? Notice how Walt Disney made sure that all of the Kids in the Mickey Mouse Club were dressed Decent? Not like the S**** that are on the Disney Channel now? Walt has to be turning over in His Grave?

[kemarie21]

12:54 AM on 07/05/2011

How are they dressed bad? I don't know how old you are but those kids dress well.

[misipi6gun]

05:24 AM on 07/05/2011

Well Sgt , that's been 50 years ago or so .... don't we all know how the morals of this nation has been decimated by Hollywood .

[xlmb]

11:05 PM on 07/04/2011

I saw the story on E. Normally I get teary eyed at the drop of a hat. In this case I just wanted to slap the hell out of her. You were 5. What 5 year old understands divorce and doesn't blame a parent. Sometimes even both. You could have said I was upset like most children that age are and blamed my mom, but looking back blah blah blah. END OF STORY... But NOOOO You dragged it on and on and on as if you were an incest victim or a victim of physical abuse! Stop your BS! You were being 5 years old. Whatever!

[NanJac]

11:00 PM on 07/04/2011

Probably the saddest thing is that she now takes care of her mom money wise............just like her friend Bieber.....Parents always sacrafice for their kids.

[tristin313]

01:41 AM on 07/05/2011

How is that sad? Why wouldn't she want to take car of her own MOTHER? Mothers do so much for their children.

[Wyattspoppa]

08:18 AM on 07/05/2011

Plenty wrong with that, she's a child you tool! Children that care for their parents are because they're invalids, perhaps 80-85 yrs old, this woman isn't 35! Think she's gonna be a star forever? That money's going to have to last her a long, long time. In 10 years she'll be a trivial pursuit question. I'm guessing she's gotten an education but while she's in Hollywood she's not building a career for post-bubble gum pop stardom. The money should go into the bank, investments etc and if her mom had any honor she wouldn't touch one red cent.

[Box500]

08:44 PM on 07/06/2011

"Mothers do so much for their children." Quite a blanket statement. What about abusive mothers? Self absorbed mothers? Neglectful? Mentally ill mothers? Just because you perhaps grew up with June Cleaver as a mom, be careful with your generalizations. I know you cannot fathom how a mother could verbally and/or physically abuse a child for hours on end every day because you know no different, but think about it.

[jims3]

10:43 PM on 07/04/2011

I guess we should all now feel sorry for her, and root for her career to grow bigger and bigger, because she's a victim, rather than succeed on true talent.

[tristin313]

01:40 AM on 07/05/2011

Yes, I'm sure this story is what is pushing her career a long.

[joannevlavender]

10:19 PM on 07/04/2011

Will there EVER be a "star" or "celebrity" who is interviewed and says: "I had a happy childhood. My parents loved me. My family had fun together on weekends and holidays. I remember my childhood as an idyllic time when we went to theme parks, ice cream parlors, and shopping trips."

Apparently, one cannot be a "celebrity" or "star" without airing one's family's dirty linen on every media available.

How sad and how pathetic.

[Diana Egielski]

11:50 PM on 07/04/2011

If I ever become famous, I promise you I will. I wouldn't trade my parents (or brother) in for anything.

[matchsjb]

01:27 AM on 07/05/2011

Same here. I'll keep them all - and all the "family" I've "adopted" along the path of life, too!

[GypsyRedHawk]

01:06 AM on 07/05/2011

Maybe she just wanted to let all the kids out there whose parents are going through divorce know that even though it sucks like hell now, eventually they'll be ok. I mean, she may have a regret or two (we all do), but I think she probably classifies herself as doing pretty well for herself now. She's definitely the most level-headed of the Disney crew. And honestly if I had a daughter, I'd rather they see more positive influences like her rather than people like Lohan, Spears, etc.

[Albert Hoffman]

05:20 PM on 07/02/2011

Americans have become a culture-less, greedy, materialistic, self-absorbed society. Things are only going downhill, and yet people make fun of the Midwestern farmer/redneck types... at least they have strong family units. I don't agree with some of the ultra-conservative values but today we ignore how important family is and was in America's development as a nation.

[lawgrrl]

11:13 AM on 07/01/2011

Oh sweetie. That's what parents are supposed to do. This girl must be a mess, she was just hospitalized for "exhaustion", which is code for overdose, anorexia, psychological episode, or suicide attempt, all work by a very good and conscience-free publicist. Poor girl. Disney just keeps destroying these little girls, as well as the stage parents.

[gobsmacked58]

10:27 PM on 07/04/2011

That didn't happen when Walt was around.

[lawgrrl]

10:51 PM on 07/04/2011

We just didn't hear about it, you remember, back then, the press didn't dig up dirt on celebrities, it was all about making them perfect and feeding into their image.

[NatalieRussell3]

10:18 AM on 07/05/2011

That was Demi Lovatto. Way to pay attention.

[lawgrrl]

10:52 AM on 07/05/2011

No, it wasn't---it was Selena Gomez---way to jump in there without at least googling. Save your snark for when you're right or have your facts straight. Thanks for coming out. : http://www.celebitchy.com/162338/selena_gomez_hospitalized_for_blood_pressure_issues_exhaustion_or_food_poisoning_not_pregnancy/

[speechteach54]

09:55 AM on 07/01/2011

I think my kids blamed me at first too. They are 29,27 and 23. I had initiated the suggestion of a trial separation because my self-absorbed husband refused to recognize that he was doing anything wrong. But as a narcissist, he took it one step further, "I'll get you my pretty", and took an apartment in the city with a year lease, not a few months. He immediately found a girlfiend, got the prescription for Viagra that he should have gotten when he was with me("I'm a man who doesn't need that stuff") and is a Hampton wanna be.
Selena needed to realize that strong women who take the step to recognize marital problems, fix them or end them should not be blamed but applauded for making such a tough decision.

[vintagemom45]

11:01 AM on 07/01/2011

I believe that is what Ms. Gomez just did. She admitted that she was wrong to blame her mom and recognized the difficulties she faced.

[speechteach54]

11:35 AM on 07/01/2011

You are correct but my point was more directed to the initial reaction most kids have towards the person initiating a divorce or separation as it breaks the family unit. They are not necessarily observing the reasons behind such actions.

[liberalcomesfromliberty]

11:03 AM on 07/01/2011

Sweetie, most men will NOT take viagra for a woman who is the same age as them. It's a waste of time.

[matchsjb]

01:24 AM on 07/05/2011

Oh - so THAT's why men my age are a waste of time.... and that's why they aren't getting much - they aren't worth the prep time. Dressing sexy is for someone who can give me SEX!

[OrangeCountyCat]

12:38 AM on 07/01/2011

And now she commits lewd acts with a minor. What a train wreck.

[tanya11111]

09:37 AM on 07/01/2011

lewd act with a minor.... yeah imagine teenagers having s.e.x... who knew?

[Tanmag]

09:54 AM on 07/01/2011

She's 18 and he's 17, so they're both at the age of consent to have sex. I'm sorry, but if I was Justin Beiber at 17, I'd hit everything I could, as would most young men. Now, if you have a problem with too many instances of PDA, I can understand that.

[joannevlavender]

10:29 PM on 07/04/2011

They may be at the age of consent, but if he's seventeen (under aged) and she's 18 (legal age) and they are having sex, it's still statutory rape. Of course, it's not likely that Justin Bieber's mother will be pressing charges.

[fullmetalmewbh]

10:45 PM on 07/04/2011

the legal age of consent is 18, not 17.