Demi Lovato has opened up about the significant criticism she received following her performance of her hit song Heart Attack at an American Heart Association event over two years ago. The singer, now 33, reflected on the incident during a recent appearance on the Elvis Duran Show, where she detailed the circumstances surrounding what many labelled a 'tone-deaf' display.
Addressing the Backlash
Lovato recalled performing the 2013 track at the Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection event in 2024, an occasion dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease. Shortly after her performance, the singer went viral online, with critics questioning the appropriateness of singing a song titled Heart Attack at such a sensitive event.
However, Lovato insisted that the decision was not her own. She explained that she had 'flagged' the song choice before taking the stage, expressing concerns to organisers. 'I flagged it beforehand and was like, "Um, isn't this, like, not the vibe?"' Lovato recounted. 'And they were like, "No, they want to hear it." I was like, "OK."'
Defending the Performance
The former Disney star, who suffered a heart attack in 2018 following a drug overdose, emphasised that she was encouraged to proceed with the performance despite her reservations. 'I want to say they asked me to sing that,' she stated, addressing the online critics who questioned her judgement. 'And then, of course people online are like, "Why did she sing that?" And I'm like, "Y'all, it wasn't me. I didn't ask. I flagged it."'
At the time of the event, a representative for Lovato defended the song choice to Entertainment Weekly, describing it as a 'beautiful moment.' The representative noted that Lovato had opened with an introduction explaining her connection to the song and addressing the mind-heart relationship, aiming to champion the women in attendance.
Reflecting on Recovery and Sobriety
In the same interview, Lovato took the opportunity to reflect on her personal recovery journey, both from her heart attack and her struggles with sobriety and eating disorders. She shared an emotional message she would give to her younger self, offering words of hope and resilience.
'I would say that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and all of the hard work becomes worth it,' Lovato expressed. 'Whether it's hard work on your recovery from an eating disorder, or whether it's recovery in sobriety, it's possible to find joy again and to live the life that exceeds your wildest dreams.'
She added, 'And I just wish I could've heard that when I was struggling when I was younger.'
Promoting New Projects
The star was promoting her upcoming cookbook, One Plate at a Time: Recipes for Finding Freedom with Food, during the interview, discussing her evolving relationship with food amid her recovery from an eating disorder. The cookbook is scheduled for publication on March 31.
Additionally, Lovato announced that she will be embarking on a North American tour next month in support of her ninth studio album, It's Not That Deep, which was released late last year. This tour marks another step in her ongoing career and personal journey, highlighting her resilience and dedication to her craft and well-being.
