Singer Demi Lovato is facing criticism online after making light of rapper 21 Savage becoming the latest person to be arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As Blavity previously reported, 21 Savage was detained Sunday morning in Atlanta after authorities from the agency claimed the musician is from the United Kingdom and living in the United States on an expired visa.
Word of the "Bank Account" rapper's arrest quickly spread across social media and consequently memes were created poking fun at his expense. Lovato, 26, wrote on her Twitter Sunday evening, "So far 21 Savage memes have been my favorite part of the Super Bowl."
Demi Lovato started off laughing at someone else’s situation then turned herself into a victim. This is peak white woman. pic.twitter.com/8FfX30GFsT
— Wee-Bae Brice ???????? (@Bos_Laflare) February 4, 2019
The insensitivity triggered a multitude of responses, and Twitter was quick to question why someone's immigration status would be perceived as a joke. Wale tweeted that he didn't "get the joke." Lovato posted follow-up tweets in an attempt to defend herself, but it wasn't enough to minimize the backlash.
Why is somebody freedom funny … I don’t get the joke https://t.co/Eyf4clympS
— Wale (@Wale) February 4, 2019
The "Black Bonnie" artist also reminded her that when she was going her tribulations, the online community rallied around the 26-year-old and sent messages of encouragement.
In July 2018, Lovato was rushed to the hospital after an apparent drug overdose. Lovato has been open about her struggle with sobriety, and just one month before being hospitalized she disclosed in her latest single, "Sober," that she had recently relapsed.
Rather than answering Wale's question, Demi retorted, "Wale's just salty I didn't respond to his desperate tweet years ago."
Demi Lovato was called out by @Wale for making fun of 21 Savage’s situation with ICE, a major issue in this country for many people.
Instead of apologizing, she attacks Wale then acts as if she’s being bullied and deactivates — leaving her fans to bully others. PEAK WHITE WOMAN. pic.twitter.com/a6PExuYP49
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) February 4, 2019
Rapper Offset also chimed in on the memes being posted but didn't mention Lovato:
ALL THE MEMES AND SHIT AINT FUNNY WHEN SOMEBODY GOING THROUGH SOME
PRAYING FOR MY DAWG
AINT SHIT FUNNY HIS FANILY
DEPENDING ON HIM— OFFSET (@OffsetYRN) February 4, 2019
"Black Twitter" became a trending topic after its reprehension of Lovato. The singer eventually deactivated her Twitter account.
Demi Lovato has deactivated her twitter account due to the backlash she has been receiving! pic.twitter.com/chLyePbJWB
— Pop Alerts (@PopAIert) February 4, 2019
However, the former Disney star posted an apology on her Instagram story and reiterated that she meant no harm in laughing at the meme and fired back at those who continued to make jokes about her addiction and subsequent overdose.
Demi Lovato clarifies her tweet about the 21 Savage memes on her Instagram story:
“I wasn’t laughig at anyone getting deported. I know that’s not a joke..not have I EVER laughed at that” pic.twitter.com/Apepv5lb1H
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 4, 2019
Conservative speaker and Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren also had the gall to make light of 21's circumstances. She was immediately shot down by rapper Cardi B, who was forced to remind the young pundit of her earlier threat to dog walk her.
Don’t make me get my leash https://t.co/ErQ2RhzDeg
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) February 4, 2019
Dog walk 'em if you gots to, Bardi.
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