Selena Gomez fans are outraged after TV show seemingly mocks her health
If you were on Twitter today you may have noticed 'Respect Selena Gomez' as a trending topic.
This is because fans were outraged when the rebooted TV show Saved By The Bell referenced the 28-year-old singer in an episode, poking fun at her health.
The Rare singer was diagnosed with lupus, an auto-immune disease, years ago, and underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.
Selena Gomez has endured a very public health battle. Instagram
In a scene in a new episode of the recently-rebooted Saved By The Bell, showing on Stan, two students are seen arguing over whose kidney Selena received.
"I know for a fact that Selena Gomez's kidney donor was Justin Bieber's mom. God, I wish that I had my phone so that I could prove it," one student says. The other student replies, "Prove what? That you're an idiot? It was Demi Lovato's kidney. They're best friends, like you and I were."
In fact, Gomez received her kidney from long-term friend, Francisca Raisa.
In another scene, the words "Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney" can be seen written on the walls of the locker room.
Fans have called for these references to be pulled from the show, saying it's disrespectful and rude to play someone's health journey for comedy.
"Selena almost lost her life, jokes about her kidney transplant is NOT FUNNY. Respect Selena Gomez," one person wrote on Twitter.
Another tweeted directly at Peacock, the NBC streaming platform producing the show: "When someone does a joke with a person with Lupus, it's disrespecting all people that fighting daily for survive, with problems on immune system, kidneys, skin…"
Peacock has apologised following the backlash, and have made a donation to Gomez's Lupus research charity.
A spokesperson told TheWrap: "We apologise. It was never our intention to make light of Selena's health. We have been in touch with her team and will be making a donation to her charity, The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC."
Nine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan.
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