The 'Creed' star is confident that Gomez will overcome her health battle.
Michael B.
Jordan has spoken out about the health of his close friend Selena Gomez,
describing the singer as a “really, really strong woman” who will conquer her
struggles.
The 24-year-old
pop star is reported to have entered rehab in early
September for depression and anxiety caused by her battle with
lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.
ET caught up with Jordan at Lupus LA’s eighth
annual Get Lucky for Lupus celebrity poker tournament at Avalon Hollywood last
Wednesday.
“Everybody
comes to terms with it in their own time and she’s finally taking the time to
deal with it and address it,” said the Creed star, who is intimately familiar with the effects
of lupus as his mom, Donna, also suffers from the disease. “My advice would be,
‘Stay optimistic, don’t succumb to how you feel in the moment -- because
it will pass and get better -- and surround yourself with positive people.”
MORE: What Is Lupus and Why Would Selena Gomez Get Chemo for It?
Jordan, 29,
added that he has previously reached out to Gomez about the illness.
“She’s a
really good friend and we’ve talked and had conversations,” he shared. “She’s a
really, really strong woman, so I can’t imagine her not conquering it just like
she has everything else.”
The
inflammatory disease causes the immune system to attack its own tissue,
resulting in pain, inflammation and damage to body parts. Symptoms include
chest pain, fatigue, hair loss and rashes, and in some cases, several symptoms
occur at once, in what is referred to as a flare.
Gomez, who found
out she had the disease four years ago, called off her Revival tour at the end of August, saying she wanted to be
“proactive” about looking after her health.
MORE: Selena Gomez Opens Up About Rehab Stint and Battling Lupus -- 'I Needed Time to Just Be OK'
“I've
discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of
lupus, which can present their own challenges,” she said in a statement. “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."
Previously,
the “Hands to Myself” singer had undergone chemotherapy for the illness.
Having
witnessed his mom’s battle with lupus, Jordan believes the hardest aspect of
living with the disease is not feeling “healthy enough or good enough” to
complete the most simple tasks and activities, which many people take for
granted.
“Just
day-to-day routine and the most normal things are really hard to do when you’re
not feeling well and your lupus is flaring up,” the Fantastic Four star told ET. “Every day can be a struggle.”
Jordan also
opened up about his own struggle of watching his mother deal with the illness after
she was diagnosed in 2000, following complications with an operation on her
knee.
“When I was
younger I didn’t understand it as much,” admitted the star, who is preparing
for his upcoming role as Erik Killmonger in Black
Panther. “As you get older, you really understand what’s what and the reality
of the situation. Just coming to terms with the fact that she’s not healthy and
there’s no cure for it is really hard. So you have to be extremely optimistic
about finding a cure.”
MORE: Lady Gaga Reacts to Selena Gomez Taking Time Off -- 'Fame Is Very Isolating'
“There’s
also a feeling of helplessness,” he continued. “The most frustrating part for
the family around somebody who has lupus is that you just want to do something
to help, but there’s not a lot you can do. So for me, the best way I can help
is to just be present at events like this and to raise awareness and money
because ultimately, research and time spent is what will correct the case.”
Jordan has,
in fact, been instrumental in helping raise funds and awareness of the disease.
Becoming an ambassador for Lupus LA he has worked closely with the
organization’s chairman, Adam Selkowitz, and in June 2015 was publicly recognized
for his efforts with the Loop Award at Lupus LA’s Orange Ball.
While
watching his mom live with an incurable illness remains difficult, Jordan says
Donna is currently doing well.
“She’s
doing good,” he said. “She just had hip replacement surgery not that long ago,
so she’s getting back on her feet and getting strong, but she’s doing well.”