Last week, Demi Lovato was hospitalised after a suspected overdose. Seen as an idol for many, fans and celebrities alike immediately rushed to their social accounts to fill Demi's accounts with messages of love and support.
However, while the majority of tweets and Instagram uploads were messages of support of love for the singer, fans also began to speculate what the cause of the overdose was.
One person, in particular, ended up on the receiving end of a lot of abuse. Dani Vitale, a backup dancer and friend of Demi's, was blamed by a lot of her fans and seen as the reason for the singer's recent relapse.
According to Demi's fans, Demi and Dani attended a party together on the night of Demi's hospitalisation. Several fans took to Twitter to call Dani a "bad influence" and saying Demi should "cut [her] out of her life." Not only this, but Dani's Instagram comments were also flooded with the snake emoji.
Now, however, Dani has responded. Taking to Instagram Sunday, the dancer reminded her followers:
"I care about Demi just like all of you do. I have not said anything about this situation now because her recovery has been of the most importance. I was not with Demi when the incident happened, but I am with her now, and will continue to be because she means to the world to me just as she does to all of you. Like all of you, I have nothing but love in my heart for her.
"There is no need for any negativity towards the ones who care about Demi at this time. There is too much of it in this world as it is."
Vitale, who is part of Lovato's Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, said she understands fans are concerned about the singer.
"I know you're all feeling lost without her at this moment in time," she added. "Remember that you have always been a community of Lovatics who LOVE. Please remember that when you take out your phones and start typing. Remember that we all love her more than we can ever put into words. Please continue to send her love during her recovery."
Despite her statement, fans have continued to bash the dancer.
One of Lovato's best friends, Dead Boys actor Matthew Scott Montgomery, also broke his silence on Lovato's relapse via Instagram Stories Sunday.
"It's been an incredibly difficult few days, and this year has easily been the hardest I've ever experienced," he wrote. "I couldn't figure out what felt weirder—posting or not posting about this." With Lovato in the hospital, he added, "I will miss hearing my best friend's laugh, maybe my favorite sound in the world, in the audience for these final shows as she continues to recover."
Montgomery dedicated his final shows to Lovato, thanking his followers for their "love and support during this very hard time."
A representative for Demi told BuzzFeed News that she was "awake and with her family", and that "some of the information being reported is incorrect".
In this difficult time, the singer needs her fans to be full of love and compassion, rather than anger and hatred.
