06:00, 10 May 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
There are many celebrities with lupus; some you may have heard of, but there are also a few surprises. Here are some personal stories of celebrities with lupus, and how the illness has affected their careers.
Many of these celebrities have helped to raise awareness for lupus as an autoimmune disorder, and how it may be treated.
While no one ever has to share their personal medical information, people of note being open about their diagnoses when they feel comfortable has the ability to spread the word about little-known illnesses, encouraging research and helping others get the right diagnosis.
According to Lupus UK, lupus is a “chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system is dysfunctional and mistakenly identifies the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders”, causing inflammation and damage. Lupus disproportionately affects women and people from Black African, Caribbean, and Asian ancestries.
Lupus UK is the only national registered charity supporting people with lupus and helping those being diagnosed.
Singer, songwriter and record producer Seal has a specific type of lupus called ‘discoid lupus erythematosus’, which is the cause of the scars on his face.
In 2023, Seal released an Instagram video about his lupus, saying: "Something that had kind of been initially traumatising turned out to be something that has made me instantly recognisable,".
One of the most famous examples of a celebrity with lupus is Selena Gomez. Selena has been open about her health struggles, including a lupus diagnosis in 2013. She went through chemotherapy as a treatment for lupus, and eventually had to have a kidney transplant.
After a painful flare-up in 2020, Selena has shared that her lupus is now in remission, as of 2024.
Halsey disclosed her lupus diagnosis very recently, in 2024. Like Selena Gomez, Halsey has struggled with various health issues for most of her adult life, including bipolar disorder, leukaemia, endometriosis Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and POTS.
While they haven’t spoken openly about their lupus symptoms, Halsey has spoken about undergoing treatment and mentioned the Lupus Research Alliance, a charitable organisation in America.
While the ‘Little Women’ author died in 1888, meaning we can’t know for sure, some doctors and historians have speculated that the author may have developed lupus later in her life.
An 1870 portrait of Alcott shows her with flushed cheeks, similar to the butterfly rash developed by many with lupus, and she suffered from other chronic health problems typical of those with the illness.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Rare Disease UK. This is the national campaign for people with rare diseases and all who support them. Find out more here.
Beacon. Beacon (formerly known as Findacure) is a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. Support them here.
Debra UK. A national charity and patient support organisation for people living with the rare, extremely painful, genetic skin blistering condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) also known as ‘Butterfly Skin’.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
