Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
On Sunday night, Lovato, 26, tweeted, “So far 21 savage memes have been my favorite part of the Super Bowl.”
ICE spokesman Brian Cox toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat the 26-year-old rapper, born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested in a “targeted operation” early on Sunday morning.
Cox reportedly said 21 Savage is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national” who entered the country legally as a teenager in July 2005 on a visa, which expired the following year.
ICE and reps for 21 Savage did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Lovato also shared a meme referencing 21 Savage’s newly revealed British citizenship, sharing a photo of someone writing with a quill pen with the caption, “This how 21 Savage be writing his verses.”
“FYI,” Lovato added on Twitter, explaining that she was not mocking 21 Savage for being arrested, “this is the s— I’m laughing at.. not the fact that anyone is getting deported.”
Fans immediately responded to Lovato’s since-deleted tweets, accusing her of being insensitive to 21 Savage’s situation. RapperWalewrote, “Why is somebody freedom funny… I don’t get the joke.”
Wale also wrote a second tweet, referring to the fans who supported Lovato afterher overdoselast summer. “A lot of people were sending you love light, prayers etc. When people were making jokes about u at a rough time. A lot of people. Bless up.”
Wale and Lovato then both commented on Instagram accountThe Shade Room, which documented their Twitter exchange.
“Wale just salty I never replied to his desperate tweets years ago,” Lovato wrote, before the rapper responded, “Still ain’t gon disrespect you .. still praying for you Demi… I don’t kick people when they down. Go queen.”
Lovato then deleted her Twitter account and posted on her Instagram story to share a snippet of the backlash she had received after sharing the 21 Savage meme.
“She’s a hypocrite let’s pull out the heroin memes and see if this bitch doesn’t get emotional,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “wonder if she saw the memes about her lol.”
“Wasn’t laughing at anyone getting deported. I know that’s not a joke… not have I EVER laughed at that,” Lovato wrote on her Instagram Story. “The meme I posted/was talking about was of him writing with a feather pen. Sorry if I offended anyone. But it’s no excuse to laugh at someone’s addiction let alone their OD.”
“Lastly, I wasn’t making fun on [sic] anything having to do with deportation or even anything against him,” she continued. “I was laughing at who the f— knew 21 was British? Literally no one. That’s it. It doesn’t go deeper than that. I’m sorry if I upset people truly.”
Lovato ended her post calling out Wale, writing, “Yo, @wale if you wanna talk, then answer my dms.”
Demi Lovato Instagram
On July 24, Lovato was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai in L.A. following theoverdoseat her Hollywood Hills home. She remained in the hospital for nearly two weeks before being released toseek in-patient treatment.
The Disney Channel alum firstbroke her silenceon social media in August, when she shared an update on her health following her hospitalization. (The post has since been deleted.)
“To my fans, I am forever grateful for all of your love and support throughout this past week and beyond. Your positive thoughts and prayers have helped me navigate through this difficult time,” Lovato said at the time.
If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
