Demi Lovato raised eyebrows with her decision to perform her 2013 track, Heart Attack, at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert.
According to an eyewitness at the event, many attendees were perplexed by the 31-year-old singer’s song choice on Wednesday night in New York City.
‘She was belting Heart Attack in front of the ‘Class of 2024,’ who were all survivors of heart attacks,’ one attendee pointed out to Us Weekly. ‘There was a video package played before the fashion show and concert where the women all shared their brushes with death via heart attack, how they were all saved during a heart attack — one has a pacemaker for the rest of her life.’
The insider noted that ‘Demi was smiling the entire performance’ and described her demeanor as ‘really tone-deaf.’
After footage of her performance began circulating online, social media users immediately began to blast Lovato.
Demi Lovato raised eyebrows with her decision to perform her 2013 track, Heart Attack, at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert (pictured above on January 31)
‘This feels like something that would’ve happened on Parks & Rec,’ one TikTok user wrote.
A handful questioned why she didn’t sing her other hit, Give Your Heart a Break, about fighting for the one you love.
Another joked that ‘they would’ve needed to’ be ‘resuscitated’ from ‘the floor’ from ‘laughing so hard.’
‘Out of all the songs in her discography,’ a fourth asked.
Others, however, pointed out that the audience ‘was cheering and singing along.’
Overall, the internet was divided other if the track was ‘in poor taste or the perfect song.’
Following the backlash, a representative for the performer, who suffered from a heart attack after her 2018 drug overdose, shed light into her decision to sing Heart Attack.
‘She spoke on the mind-heart connection. It was a sensitive moment intended to champion the women in the room — the very reason why Demi was at the event,’ her rep explained to Entertainment Weekly.
The person added: ‘She did open with a beautiful intro on why she chose the song and addressed the room, talking about the mind and heart connection. It was actually a beautiful moment.’
After footage of her performance began circulating online, social media users immediately began to blast Lovato
‘This feels like something that would’ve happened on Parks & Rec,’ one TikTok user wrote
Another joked that ‘they would’ve needed to’ be ‘resuscitated’ from ‘the floor’ from ‘laughing so hard’
‘Out of all the songs in her discography,’ a fourth asked
Overall, the internet was divided other if the track was ‘in poor taste or the perfect song’
On Friday Demi kept up the red theme as she stepped out in a bright, leather, rouge trench coat
The longtime entertainer was in high spirits as she attended a New York Knicks game with fiancé Jutes
Lovato flashed her huge diamond engagement ring as she sat courtside
Demi showed off a sleek black manicure and bold red lip, which contrasted with her jet black hair
On Friday Demi kept up the red theme as she stepped out in a bright, leather, rouge trench coat.
She wore the bright piece over a black outfit that consisted of a crew neck top tucked into high-waisted trousers.
The longtime entertainer was in high spirits as she attended a New York Knicks game with fiancé Jutes.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, according to the CDC.
This marks the 21st annual American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert.
This year’s event was attended by Mira Sorvino, Sherri Shepherd, Samira Wiley, Yvonne Orji and Damar Hamlin.
Along with awareness, the event raises funds ‘to support research that leads to innovative and lifesaving discoveries,’ according to the AHA.
Following the backlash, a representative for the performer, who suffered from a heart attack and three strokes after her 2018 drug overdose, shed light into her decision to sing Heart Attack
Taking to her Instagram Story, Demi expressed her joy about ‘women coming together for an incredible cause to save more women’s lives and fight back against cardiovascular disease.’
She included a photo of herself ‘backstage’ wearing a Slipknot band T-shirt and black sweatpants.
Demi then snapped a photo of herself in her red carpet look with the caption: ‘Tonight is all about reminding women how important it is to advocate for ourselves and to prioritize our health.’
They then encouraged their followers to ‘Go Red for Women!’
‘She spoke on the mind-heart connection. It was a sensitive moment intended to champion the women in the room — the very reason why Demi was at the event,’ her rep explained to Entertainment Weekly
They added: ‘She did open with a beautiful intro on why she chose the song and addressed the room, talking about the mind and heart connection. It was actually a beautiful moment’
Following her 2018 overdose, Lovato said she suffered from multiple strokes, a heart attack and brain damage.
‘My doctors said that I had five to 10 more minutes,’ she revealed in her YouTube documentary Dancing With The Devil, released in 2021.
As she continued to reflect on the life changing incident and the effect it has continued to have on herself, her friends, and family, Demi compared her resiliency to that of a cat with nine lives.
‘I’ve had a lot of lives, like my cat. You know, I’m on my ninth life,’ she stressed. ‘I’m ready to get back to doing what I love, which is making music.’
While discussing the YouTube Originals series, Demi elaborated on the lingering effects her overdose has had on her mental and physical health.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Demi expressed her joy about ‘women coming together for an incredible cause to save more women’s lives and fight back against cardiovascular disease’
Demi also took the opportunity to remind ‘women how important it is to advocate for’ themselves ‘and to prioritize’ their health
‘I was left with brain damage, and I still deal with the effects of that today. I don’t drive a car because I have blind spots in my vision,’ admitted the Sonny With A Chance actress.
Demi also noted that ‘for a long time had a really hard time reading,’ so it was ‘really big deal when I was able to read out of a book, like, two months later because my vision was so blurry.’
‘I’ve dealt with the repercussions, and they’re there to remind me what could happen if I get into a dark place again. I’m grateful for these reminders,’ concluded the star.
On July 24, 2023, just two days before she was set to take the stage in New Jersey, Demi was transported to a Los Angeles area hospital after suffering from an opioid overdose.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to Rolling Stone that it had ‘responded to a medical emergency call at 11:22 a.m.’ at Lovato’s Hollywood Hills home.
Following her 2018 overdose, Lovato said she suffered from multiple strokes, a heart attack and brain damage (seen last year)
A source revealed to TMZ that when paramedics arrived to Demi’s residence they headed inside where they found the star unconscious.
Paramedics on the scene administered naloxone, which is a medication designed to treat narcotic overdose, before rushing Lovato to a nearby by hospital, as per NBC.
TMZ also reported at the time that the Sonny With A Chance actress had been ‘celebrating a friend’s birthday in West Hollywood’ the night prior to her near-fatal overdose.
Representatives for Lovato issued a statement to Variety on July 25 confirming that Demi had not succumbed to her overdose and that she was surrounded by her closest loved ones, presumably in hospital.
‘Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support,’ it began.
The statement also suggested that ‘some of the information being reported [was] incorrect,’ which was a direct reference to claims suggesting that Demi had overdosed on heroin.
‘They respectfully ask for privacy and not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.’
Demi was released from the hospital in August and went on to spend three months in a rehab facility.