Demi Lovato is criticized for tone-deaf performance of her song Heart Attack at an event for cardiovascular health

Demi Lovato raised eyebrows with her decision to perform her 2013 song, Heart Attack, at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert.

According to an eyewitness to the event, many attendees were stunned by the 31-year-old singer’s song choice Wednesday night in New York City.

“She was singing Heart Attack to the ‘Class of 2024’ who were all heart attack survivors,” one attendee noted We weekly. ‘Prior to the fashion show and concert, a video package was played where the women all shared their experiences of death by 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 throughout the performance” and described her behavior as “really tone deaf.”

After images of her performance began circulating online, social media users immediately began criticizing Lovato.

“This feels like something that would have happened on Parks & Rec,” one TikTok user wrote.

A handful wondered why she didn’t sing her other hit, Give Your Heart a Break, about fighting for the one you love.

Another joked that ‘they’ had to be ‘resuscitated’ from ‘the floor’ because they were ‘laughing so hard’.

“Of all the songs in her discography,” a fourth asked.

However, others pointed out that the crowd was “cheering and singing along.”

Overall, the internet was divided if the song was “in bad taste or was the perfect song.”

Following the backlash, a rep for the artist, who suffered a heart attack following her drug overdose in 2018, shed light on her decision to sing Heart Attack.

‘She spoke about the connection between mind and heart. It was a sensitive moment meant to champion the women in the room — exactly why Demi was at the event,” her rep explained. Entertainment weekly.

They added, “She opened with a beautiful intro about why she chose the song and addressed the room, talking about the connection between mind and heart. It was actually a nice moment.’

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, according to the American newspaper CDC.

This marks the American Heart Association’s 21st annual 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.

In addition to raising awareness, the event also raises money “to support research that leads to innovative and lifesaving discoveries,” according to the AHA.

In her Instagram Story, Demi expressed her joy at “women coming together for an incredible cause to save more women’s lives and fight back against cardiovascular disease.”

She added a photo of herself “backstage,” wearing a Slipknot band T-shirt and black sweatpants.

Demi then posted a photo of herself in her red carpet look with the caption, “Tonight is all about reminding women how important it is to stand up for ourselves and prioritize our health.”

They then encouraged their followers to ‘Go Red for Women!’

After her 2018 overdose, Lovato said she suffered multiple strokes, a heart attack and brain damage.

“My doctors said I had five to 10 minutes left,” 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 continued to have on herself, her friends and family, Demi likened her resilience to that of a cat with nine lives.

‘I’ve had many lives, just like my cat. You know, I’m on my ninth life,” she emphasized. ‘I’m ready to get back to doing what I love: making music.’

While discussing the YouTube Originals series, Demi elaborated on the lingering effects her overdose has had on her mental and physical health.

‘I was left with brain damage and I still suffer from it. I don’t drive because I have blind spots in my vision,” the Sonny With A Chance actress admitted.

Demi also noted that “I had a really hard time reading for a long time,” so it was “a really big deal when two months later I was able to read from a book because my vision was so blurry.”

“I have suffered the consequences and they are there to remind me of what can happen if I find myself in a dark place again. I am grateful for these memories,” the star concluded.

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 overdosing on opioids.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed this Rolling stone that it had “responded to a medical emergency call at 11:22 a.m.” at Lovato’s Hollywood Hills home.

A source revealed to TMZ that when paramedics arrived at Demi’s home, they went inside and found the star unconscious.

Paramedics on the scene administered naloxone, a drug designed to treat narcotic overdoses, before rushing Lovato to a nearby hospital, according to NBC.

TMZ also reported at the time that the Sonny With A Chance actress was “celebrating a friend’s birthday in West Hollywood” the night before her near-fatal overdose.

Lovato’s representatives released 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, believed to be in the hospital.

“Demi is awake and with her family who want to thank everyone for the love, prayers and support,” it began.

The statement also suggested that “some of the information reported was incorrect,” which was a direct reference to claims suggesting Demi had overdosed on heroin.

“They respectfully request privacy and no speculation as her health and recovery are the most important thing at this time.”

Demi was released from hospital in August and subsequently spent three months in rehab.