Selena Gomez fans slam Saved By The Bell reboot as ‘cruel and unjust’ after show pokes fun at singer’s kidney transplant
SELENA Gomez fans are outraged at Peacock’s new Saved By The Bell reboot that pokes fun of the singer’s 2017 kidney transplant multiple times.
An army of “Selenators” quickly got “respect Selena Gomez” trending on Twitter after the “cruel and unjust scene” went viral – prompting the fanbase to demand an apology from NBC.
The remake of the 1990’s teen classic – which stars Mario Lopez in both the original and the reboot – launched on NBC’s streaming platform this week.
In one of the episodes from the new series, two Bayside High School students are arguing about who donated the Lose You To Love Me songstress’ organ during her serious transplant surgery.
During a hallway gossip session, one girl says: “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 I could prove it.”
Her friend then responds: “Prove what? That you’re an idiot?
“It was Demi Lovato’s kidney. They’re best friends, like you and I were.”
The show didn’t stop there, and mentioned it again during a scene that takes place inside the school.
As two football players begin to argue, the words “Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?” are written on the wall behind them.
Fans are furious the show “joked” about something so serious and slammed the move as “disgusting” – while also getting “respect Selena Gomez” to trend on Twitter.
“Joking about someone’s disease is not funny whatsoever. It’s just so cruel and unjust.
“Selena doesn’t deserve that & no one else deserves that either. RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ,” one fan wrote.
Another furious person urged: “@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.”
“Wtf is wrong with this show and it’s obsession with selenas health??? this is so disgusting and unnecessary,” one more echoed.
While a fourth tweeted: “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.”
Selena, 28, required a kidney transplant in 2017 after the pop star contracted lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack healthy parts of itself.
Her good friend and actress Francia Raisa donated a kidney to her – but complications in surgery meant Selena had to undergo yet another emergency procedure to keep her new kidney in place.
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Francia told W weeks after the procedure: “A few hours after our surgery, I woke up and had a text from her that said, ‘I’m really scared.’ My kidney was very active, and when it turned I broke an artery.”
“They had to take Selena into emergency surgery and get a vein from her leg and build a new artery to keep my kidney in place. She could have died.”
Selena – who was sitting beside Francia for the joint interview – later said: “Francia gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.”