Selena Gomez has been a fixture in the spotlight since her childhood, evolving from a Disney Channel star to a global pop icon and a respected actress. Throughout her career, there have been numerous moments where the media and fans have speculated about her public image and her choices regarding artistic expression. One such period of intense speculation occurred around 2013, a pivotal year in her transition to more mature roles.
While she received a public "open invitation" to the Playboy Mansion from the magazine's Twitter account in April 2013, she did not accept or participate in a photoshoot for the publication. Fake, Photoshopped covers circulated online at the time, which may be the source of your confusion.
Reactions from fans and critics:
Her "lifestyle" in 2013 was a paradox:
Beyond music, Selena’s entertainment footprint in 2013 was massive. On November 10, 2013, she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Amsterdam. Her hosting style was irreverent and edgy. She joked about her personal life, wore a skin-tight black mini-dress, and even pretended to snort a line of Smarties (candy) off a table backstage—a visual that immediately went viral and reinforced the "bad girl" rumor mill.