Demi Lovato has apologized for posting a Snapchat video on Friday night (Aug. 12) containing a joke about people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, getting the Zika virus. The apology arrived after the pop star received strong backlash online.
In the now-deleted Snapchat video (watch below), Lovato’s mother, Dianna Hart, can be seen seen on camera, saying, “Everybody down in Rio gonna get the Zika virus.” The pop star’s laughter was heard in the background.
Shortly after, people on social media reacted negatively to the comment with the hashtag #DemiLovatoIsOverParty. On Saturday morning, Lovato responded to the criticism with an apology on Twitter.
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“In no way did I mean to offend anyone last night,” she wrote. “I was laughing at how southern my mom sounded, not the issue at hand. Deepest apologies.”
Lovato followed up with another tweet that reads, “If you watch everything I do, you’re still a fan.. I ain’t goin nowhere bitches.”
In no way did I mean to offend anyone last night. I was laughing at how southern my mom sounded, not the issue at hand. Deepest apologies.
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) August 13, 2016
If you watch everything I do, you’re still a fan.. I ain’t goin nowhere bitches
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) August 13, 2016