Selena Gomez has faced online criticism for promoting her beauty brand while traveling to her best friend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
The pop superstar and her NFL partner Travis Kelce are set to officially tie the knot at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 3, with a massive crowd of more than 1,000 guests expected to watch.
But the pre-wedding celebrations were hit by a wave of social media drama on Thursday night when Gomez used a trip to the couple’s very private rehearsal dinner to show off a new makeup item.
The controversy began when the actress took to social media on her way to the intimate gathering, where around 100 close friends and family members gathered at the arena’s Infosys Theatre.
In a short video clip shot in the back of a car, Gomez could be seen applying lipstick from her Rare Beauty cosmetics line while wearing a glamorous strapless black dress.
She followed the footage with a close-up that clearly showed the lip product.
While the star happily showed off her picture-perfect glam, complete with raven locks slicked back into a neat style and matching diamond earrings and ring, the promotional nature of the post immediately raised eyebrows.
Fans were quick to point out that the pop icon’s wedding has been heavily shrouded in secrecy, sparking warnings that using the much-anticipated family event for brand exposure could risk secrecy.
Critics flooded the comments to call out the actress, with one disgruntled fan writing: “Use other women’s success for relevance… stay away from her.”
Another viewer added a sarcastic remark, writing: “Yes, use your best friends wedding to sell makeup.”
Other fans chose to see the funny side of the quick business move, with one commenter saying that Selena applying Rare Beauty lipstick in the car on the way to her boyfriend’s wedding rehearsal was simply the most famous thing ever.
Despite the minor stir online, the exclusive rehearsal dinner went smoothly as a star-studded affair.
Alongside Gomez, Swift’s frequent musical collaborator Jack Antonoff, 42, and actor Adam Sandler, 59, were both seen by onlookers heading into the Midtown venue to toast the couple ahead of their massive Friday ceremony.
