BBC criticised after ‘apologising for Demi Lovato’s same-sex dancing’
Demi came out last year (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Mastercard)
The BBC has been criticised after appearing to apologise for same-sex content during a performance by Demi Lovato.
Appearing at the BBC’s ‘Biggest Weekend’ on Sunday, singer-songwriter Demi Lovato performed her 2015 hit Cool For the Summer.
Lovato performed the hit while dancing provocatively with a female dancer, before telling the crowd they should “love who they want to love.”
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However, during the performance, the BBC chose to show a message on screen apologising for offensive content, writing: “We apologise if you’ve been offended by anything in this stream.”
Many fans thought that the BBC’s message was apologising for the performance’s same-sex content and voiced their criticism accordingly on social media.
(@Costanza_Fam / Twitter)
One person wrote: ‘An apology was posted after Demi danced with a woman’ but why does it matter if she danced with a woman, you wouldn’t apologise if she did the exact same thing with a man ♀️.”
(@demidevotionxo / Twitter)
Another added: “An apology was posted on screen after Demi danced with a… ready for this… a girl!! How dare she dance with a girl.”
(@itsdemissues / Twitter)
A third fan stated: “I’m speechless. BBC said sorry for the moment when Demi was with the girl? What’s the f***ing problem? Homophobia, hello?”
However, in a statement to Metro, the BBC stated that the apology was put on screen because of swearing in the performance.
Related: BBC in hot water over ‘unashamedly homophobic’ guest on Stephen Nolan show
A BBC spokesperson said: “All artists are reminded not to use strong language at any point whilst on stage as their set will be broadcast live on the BBC and an apology slide was issued during the performance that was live-streamed online.”
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The song Cool For The Summer includes a number of suggestive lyrics, including: “Got a taste for the cherry/I just need to take a bite”, and “I’m a little curious, too / tell me if it’s wrong, if it’s right / I don’t care /I can keep a secret, can you?”
When the song was released in 2015, Lovato stated that she would not confirm or deny that Cool For The Summer was about experimenting with women.
The Sorry Not Sorry singer, a longtime LGBT advocate, revealed in 2017 that she was open to dating women, saying: “That’s how I’ve always felt.”
In March, Lovato explained more about her sexuality, saying: “I’m very fluid, and I think love is love. You can find it in any gender. I like the freedom of being able to flirt with whoever I want.”
