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'I was absolutely broken inside': Selena Gomez delivers emotional speech at AMAs

After taking a break from the spotlight, the singer returned to the stage at the American Music Awards to deliver a powerful message.
/ Source: TODAY

Selena Gomez is back!

After taking a break from the spotlight to focus on her health, the "Good For You" singer returned to the stage at the American Music Awards Sunday night to accept an honor and deliver a powerful message.

Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez accepts Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards on Nov. 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Winter / Getty Images

"I had to stop," she told the crowd of her hiatus. "'Cause I had everything, and I was absolutely broken inside. I kept it all together enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.”

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In August, Gomez announced that she needed "to take some time off" due to anxiety and depression brought on by lupus. In her first time back in the public eye since then, she took the opportunity to speak directly to her fans and her peers.

“I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in here,” she said through tears as she put her hand over her heart.

But the most important message she shared was one of hope.

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"If you are broken, you do not have to stay broken," she said. "Whether you respect me or not, one thing you should know about is I care about people.”

And people got the message. The speech earned a standing ovation — and more than a few tears.

In fact, the praise from other notable names, including Lady Gaga and gymnast Aly Raisman, continued on social media long after Gomez left the stage.

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