The popular high school sitcom “Saved by the Bell” cut scenes from a recent broadcast of the show after which Selena Gomez’s fans demonstrated discontent for making rude remarks about the singer-songwriter’s kidney transplant.
Following the backlash, Peacock and the showrunners expressed regret and edited the episode. Universal Television along with other executive producers stated, “We apologize. It was never our intention to make light of Selena’s health. “We have been in touch with her team and will be donating to her charity, The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC”.
The scene aired in the 6th episode of the rebooted series and depicts two students quarreling about pop culture without any direct access to the internet because they don’t have their phones on them and are unable to find sources to confirm their side of the argument.
One of the students says, “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 I could prove it” while the other points out, “Prove what? That you’re an idiot? It was Demi Lovato’s kidney. They’re best friends…like you and I were.”
Fans of the artist expressed their anger and stood in support of their idol. They demanded the channel to “RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ” and show remorse over their actions. Within minutes the tag went viral and trended worldwide.
One of them tweeted, “Joking about someone’s disease is not funny whatsoever. It’s just so cruel and unjust. Selena doesn’t deserve that & no one else deserves that either”.
Another wrote “I truly wonder how some of y’all would feel if you had a disease or a disorder and people mocked you for it and diminished what you were going through as a ‘joke’. There’s a difference between dark humor and being flagrantly ignorant. Learn the difference”.
Gomez’s donor and fellow actress Francia Raisa used her social media platform to address the problem speak up for her best friend. She replied “Appreciate the apology but let’s not forget about the donors that potentially felt offended and dismissed from the spray paint written on the wall”.
The star first opened up about her health issues in 2017 and revealed that she has been suffering from Lupus and had to undergo an operation because the autoimmune disorder was destroying her kidneys. Over the years she has been spreading awareness and raising funds to help to find a permanent cure for the illness.
