Photo credit: Instagram
After her star-studded trip to Israel — which was splashed all over social media — pop star Demi Lovato got the smack down from anti-Israel and BDS activists for daring to visit the Jewish state.
You would hope that someone used to the limelight, could withstand the pressure. However, the singer immediately succumbed to the accusations and apologized for going to Israel!
While in Israel, Lovato posted photos of her trip including her baptism in the Jordan River and her visit to Shalva — a center in Jerusalem for children with special needs that we as a ministry support and visit. Lovato was pictured on her social media pages with a little girl in the early learning center.
During the trip, Lovato exuded love of the country and she cited her Christianity and her Jewish roots.
“When I was offered an amazing opportunity to visit the places I’d read about in the Bible growing up, I said yes,” she wrote on social media during her trip. “I’ve never felt such a sense of spirituality or connection to God…something I’ve been missing for a few years now. Spirituality is so important to me…to be baptized in the Jordan river — the same place Jesus was baptized — I’ve never felt more renewed in my life.”
Lovato immediately received backlash. The Israeli news site, Ynet, reported that Lovato had been paid $150,000 by the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, with more provided by a private donor, although it is unclear whether it was a government-sponsored trip or a private donor who made this possible.
The young star withered under the media castigation.
“No one told me there would be anything wrong with going or that I could possibly be offending anyone,” she wrote. “With that being said, I’m sorry if I hurt or offended anyone, that was not my intention. Sometimes people present you with opportunities and no one tells you the potential backlash you could face in return. This was meant to be a spiritual experience for me NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT and now I realize it hurt people and for that I’m sorry.”
Not only did she apologize, but she blamed others for not telling her what most people know: Israel is controversial!
Other celebrities routinely receive backlash for visiting or performing in Israel. Some have even decided to cancel their shows or trips.
On positive note, however, Lovato’s mother, who accompanied her daughter on the trip, took to Instagram to say she would “unapologetically go again one day” to Israel. Her post had tens of thousands of likes.
“Praying at the Western Wall with my beautiful daughter @ddlovato in the Old City of Jerusalem was the highlight of my trip to Israel,” De La Garza wrote. “I will never forget that day… or that trip as we celebrated life and Christianity as we learned about the Jewish faith while listening to the Muslim call to prayer. There was no fighting, no judgement, no cruel words… only love. And I will undoubtedly, unapologetically go again one day.”
Lovato apparently deleted her apology post.
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