Demi Lovato is putting her foot in her mouth. The “Confident” singer, 23, took to Twitter over the weekend to apologize for a previous comment, in which she and her mother joked about people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, contracting the Zika virus.
In a Snapchat video — which was shared on Friday, August 13, and has since been deleted — Lovato’s mom, Dianna Hart, quips, “Everybody down in Rio gonna get the Zika virus,” prompting laughter from the singer in the background.
Shortly after the controversial clip was posted, the hashtag #DemiLovatoIsOverParty started trending on Twitter, sparking a response from Lovato herself.
“In no way did I mean to offend anyone last night,” the Disney alum tweeted on Saturday, August 13. “I was laughing at how southern my mom sounded, not the issue at hand. Deepest apologies.”
She added, “If you watch everything I do, you’re still a fan.. I ain’t goin nowhere bitches. … It’s an awesome feeling when you’re so content with life and yourself that hate doesn’t affect you.. Feeling’ good y’all.”
Earlier this year, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took action against the Zika epidemic by issuing a travel advisory, while other countries urged their citizens to delay pregnancy, as the virus can impact fetal development. The outbreak especially raised concerns in Brazil due to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
This isn’t the first time Lovato caused a stir on social media. In June, she announced she was quitting Twitter and Instagram. Less than 24 hours later, she returned to Twitter, writing, “F–k this.. I’m back bitches. And I’m coming back more honest than ever.”
