Demi Lovato has issued an apology and an explanation.
In the following Snapchat video – which was shared on Friday and has since been deleted – the singer’s mother, Dianna Hart, jokes about something inappropriate.
“Everybody down in Rio gonna get the Zika virus,” Hart says, referring to an illness that is prominent in Brazil.
Zika really has resulted in fears at the Olympics, with a handful of golfers and basketball players not participating this summer out of concern for the virus.
You can hear Lovato laughing in the background after her mom makes this quip… and this laughter has drawn a rebuke from followers online.
They don’t think the mention of a serious virus, one that can very likely result in birth defects for newborns, is anything to joke about.
And Lovato agrees.
She said in a subsequent Tweet that she wasn’t guffawing over the content of her mother’s joke, but rather the way in which she said it.
“In no way did I mean to offend anyone last night,” Lovato wrote, explaining:
“I was laughing at how southern my mom sounded, not the issue at hand. Deepest apologies.”
Lovato was basically forced to address this controversy after the hashtag #DemiLovatoIsOverParty started trending on social media.
This might seem like somewhat of a trite issue, but Lovato has been the one in the past to call out celebrities for jokes and references.
Back in 2014, Lovato took Meghan Trainor to task for an eating disorder joke the artist made.
And remember when Lovato referred to Taylor Swift as a fake feminist?
If you’re going to be critical of others for misspeaking, you have to face the music yourself when those critical tables are turned.
So kudos for Lovato for taking responsibility here in a timely manner.
Of course, Demi didn’t exactly sound too regretful over her actions.
She sounded a tad bitter, in fact, adding via Twitter:
“If you watch everything I do, you’re still a fan.. I ain’t goin nowhere bitches. … It’s an awesome feeling when you’re so content with life and yourself that hate doesn’t affect you..
“Feeling’ good y’all.”
We’re glad Demi is feeling good, but we wish she had not added this last part.
A simple, basic apology is always the way to go.
Earlier this year, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took action against the Zika epidemic by issuing a travel advisory.
So it’s not as if people are just making this up. It’s a pretty big deal.
In June, Demi announced she was quitting Twitter and Instagram due to the harassment of idiotic trolls.
Less than 24 hours later, she returned to Twitter, writing: “F–k this.. I’m back bitches. And I’m coming back more honest than ever.”
On that account, she’s been right.
You won’t find many celebrities who speak their minds for often than Demi Lovato.
