Selena Gomez

Francia Raísa addresses claim she was ‘forced' to donate kidney to Selena Gomez

While reflecting on her rumored fallout from Selena Gomez, Francia Raísa set the record straight on speculation that she was somehow "forced" to donate a kidney to the pop star in 2017.

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The heart wants what it wants—and Francia Raisa knew hers wanted to help Selena Gomez.

Back in 2017, the "How I Met Your Father" actress donated one of her kidneys to the pop star as she battled lupus, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that can cause organ failure. While the transplant was a success, rumors that the two had a falling out surfaced last year when Gomez referred to Taylor Swift as her "only friend in the industry."

The internet then went wild with speculation that Raísa hadn't actually volunteered to donate her kidney, but that she was rather put in an awkward position to save Gomez.

So, what's the truth?

"I've said this before, but that was a time where I just felt it in my heart," Raísa said on the Aug. 1 episode of the "Good Guys" podcast. "No one forced me to do anything."

The 35-year-old continued, "It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart, and I've been super blessed ever since."

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As for her rumored feud with Gomez, Raísa bluntly said, "There's no beef."

Still, the "Grown-ish" alum admitted that "never in my life did I picture" a kidney donation would cause such a stir and eventually become internet fodder.

This was not the first time Raísa spoke about what led her to donate a kidney to Gomez. "When I found out I was a match, it wasn't in the way I'd expected," she told Self in 2018. "One day I got a phone call from Gomez, a FaceTime, and she's like: ‘You're a match!'"

At the time, Raísa said she was "angry" that someone broke the news to Gomez before she did. "I had a way that I wanted to tell her when I made the decision," she explained. "I knew it was going to happen, I just needed that time."

Last month, Gomez paid tribute to Raísa on her birthday, calling the star a "special human being" in an Instagram post.

The 31-year-old added, "No matter where life takes us, I love you."

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