Selena Gomez fans are defending the singer after her health was mocked during an episode of Peacock’s reboot of Saved by the Bell.
During a scene in the new series, which premiered Nov. 25 on the NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, two high school students are seen arguing about who the donor was for Gomez’s kidney transplant in 2017.
The 28-year-old singer has lived with Lupus for many years and underwent a kidney transplant about three years ago. She later revealed that the donor was her best friend Francia Raisa.
“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 that I could prove it,” one character says. The other student replies, “Prove what? That you’re an idiot? It was Demi Lovato‘s kidney. They’re best friends, like you and I were.”
Saved by the Bell, that's disgusting. Selena almost lost her life, jokes about her kidney transplant is NOT FUNNY. Respect Selena Gomez. pic.twitter.com/c8AZbsU1m0
— Selena Charts (@selenachartsbr) November 28, 2020
In a later scene, the words “Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?” are written near some lockers on the walls of the high school.
Selenators definitely didn’t find the scenes funny. Many took to social media to call for the removal of Saved by the Bell from Peacock, and started the trend “RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ” on Twitter.
Trending on Billboard
a tv show called "saved by the bell" has "does selena gomez even have a kidney?" written on the wall. this is so disgusting and unnecessary. selena doesn't deserve this.
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/u7IcPX8NqV
— ً (@jndoIIs) November 28, 2020
“using what selena gomez went through for entertainment is blatantly insensitive and wrong,” one fan tweeted. “what she went through was real and it wasn’t easy. it’s so incredibly disgusting seeing it be used as a joke for entertainment. RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ.”
Another wrote, “.@peacockTV we demand an apology to @selenagomez for making fun of Selena’s health issues. 5M – 10M people die from kidney diseases every year. Serious health issues should never be a joke. Stop using Selena’s struggles for profit for your flop show.”
In September 2017, Gomez revealed she had undergone a kidney transplant to combat her lupus, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that sometimes causes kidney failure, when she posted an Instagram picture of herself holding hands with grown-ish star and kidney donor Raisa in their adjacent hospital beds.
Below, see more social media reactions to Gomez’s health issues being joked about on the new Save by the Bell.
using what selena gomez went through for entertainment is blatantly insensitive and wrong. what she went through was real and it wasn't easy. it's so incredibly disgusting seeing it be used as a joke for entertainment. RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ https://t.co/NTD9Jr8tUh
— shelley🧣 (@selgofetish) November 28, 2020
wtf is wrong with this show and it’s obsession with selenas health??? this is so disgusting and unnecessary @peacockTV @TraceyWigfield @bariotweets @RealPeterEngel https://t.co/MgbPsI2bVy
— ً (@TayIenaVoodoo) November 28, 2020
selena always spreads kindness and minds her own business, so the least we can do is show that we love and respect her too💓
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/GeQREPKRTD
— emrah 🧣 (@skinnysel) November 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/fetishofsmg/status/1332721609946271745
https://twitter.com/sameoIdfenty/status/1332766929950531585
https://twitter.com/musicfacts_sel/status/1332709235457617925
Selena saved so many lifes by sharing her story and her art including mine, she helped me through a very dark place when no one else could and one of the main reasons I was being able to do better and that's what she gets in return?
Some people are just sick
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/XPo0xgQLzh— Champagne problem🥂 (@_farfromfine_) November 28, 2020
Selena is one of the least problematic people in the industry and yet they always attack her because they know she won't say anything, imagine how tired we are.
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/N0bKhb2HNu— Vote Stats Selena (@VoteStatsSel) November 28, 2020
. @peacockTV You have no professional ethics. You should be ashamed to air a show where a person is mocked for their serious illness. It is not only offensive to Selena Gomez, but to all those who have had to go through a process as difficult as that.
— Selena G. Squad (@SGVoteSquad) November 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/sally46x/status/1332767158267482112