When the interviewer said they assumed Selena was talking about Justin, she told NPR: "You had to get the name in, I get it."
But the 27-year-old star went on to insist she didn't consider the relationship part of the harder times in her life because she "found the strength in it."
Asked if it was one of the harder times in her life, she said: "No, because I've found the strength in it. It's dangerous to stay in a victim mentality. And I'm not being disrespectful, I do feel I was a victim to certain abuse..."
Asked to clarify if she meant emotional abuse, she added: "Yes, and I think that it's something that -- I had to find a way to understand it as an adult. And I had to understand the choices I was making.
"As much as I definitely don't want to spend the rest of my life talking about this, I am really proud that I can say I feel the strongest I've ever felt and I've found a way to just walk through it with as much grace as possible."
Justin has yet to comment on the allegation.
- Bang! Showbiz