(Culture)

The Meaningful Reason Behind Selena Gomez’s New Tattoo

If you binge-watched Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why over the weekend, we were right there with you. The new drama’s co-producer, Selena Gomez, has called it her passion project on numerous occasions, and she just took that passion to a whole new level.

Yesterday she met with two of the show’s stars, Alisha Boe and Tommy Dorfman, and the trio got matching tattoos. Selena shared the process in an Instagram story, and the group left the tattoo parlor with semicolons on their wrists. The semicolon portrays the true meaning of the show, symbolizing that one’s story doesn’t have to end. For those unfamiliar with 13 Reasons Why, the show tackles the subjects of bullying, sexual harassment and a suicide committed by the show’s narrator, Hannah Baker. Throughout the years, the semicolon has become a symbol for those battling mental health issues, self-injury and attempted suicide.

Project Semicolon began in 2013 and aims to spread the message of love and hope to anyone who may be living in a constant struggle. In English grammar, semicolons determine that a clause is over, but a sentence is not. Therefore, Project Semicolon encourages its audience to remember that although times are tough, they can pull through and carry on. This tattoo experience proves the show’s impact on Selena and the rest of the cast, and their dedication to bringing awareness to these important issues.

Photo: Selena Gomez via Instagram Stories

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.