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Gomez, 24, issued the statement in the midst of her Revival
world tour, and about a year after revealing that she had been
diagnosed with lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the
body and affects some 1.5 million Americans, according to the
Lupus Foundation of America.
It was not immediately clear when she would start her break or
what would happen with the rest of her tour, mostly in Europe
and South America, through the end of 2016.
"I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can
be side effects of lupus, which can present their own
challenges," she said.
"I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and
happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take
some time off . . . I need to face this head on to ensure I am
doing everything possible to be my best," the former Disney
Channel star said.
Gomez announced her decision about two weeks after getting into
a social media feud with her ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber, after
the Canadian pop star posted images to his Instagram page of
himself and his latest girlfriend, Sofia Richie.
Fans posted negative comments and Bieber made his account
private in response.
"If you can't handle the hate then stop posting pictures of your
girlfriend lol -it should be special between you two only,"
Gomez wrote under an image of the new couple. "Don't be mad at
your fans. They love you."
Gomez, who found fame as a teenager through the 2007-12 Disney
Channel series "Wizards of Waverly Place," also canceled half of
her "Stars Dance" tour in 2014 when she was initially diagnosed
with lupus.
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