- The producers of Saved by the Bell have apologised to Selena Gomez.
- This comes after the show made references to her kidney transplant in a recent episode.
- Fans of the singer slammed the show with the trending topic Respect Selena Gomez, on Twitter.
The producers of Saved by the Bell have apologised to Selena Gomez after they made a joke about her kidney transplant in a recent episode.
The reboot of the popular 90s show centres on a group of California low-income high school students who transfer to the wealthy Bayside High following a program by California Governor Zack Morris. It is currently showing on the streaming service Peacock in the US.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the show trended on Twitter over the weekend, as well as "Respect Selena Gomez", as fans slammed the show for references about the 28-year-old's kidney transplant.
READ MORE | Selena Gomez undergoes a kidney transplant
In a scene from the sixth episode, two students speculate about the identity of Selena's kidney donor.
"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 student says. "Prove what?" the other replies. "That you're an idiot? It was Demi Lovato's kidney. They're best friends like you and I were."
In another scene there is graffiti on the wall which reads, "Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?", reports the publication.
SEE SOME OF THE TWEETS HERE:
who are they to make fun of Selena?!? these "people" are looking for attention because their series is rubbish! this is not good at all only a simple person can do it! Selena is a queen and this stupid "joke" on the part of these"people" will not affect her! #respectselenagomez https://t.co/fbNE4pYIpC
— Michaela (@Michael46198384) November 30, 2020
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ
— ???? (@_8lbil) November 28, 2020
This absolutely sickens me that we’re in 2020 and we still can’t respect one another Selena Gomez deserves nothing but all the happiness and respect in the world pic.twitter.com/M5nW56t9OU
It’s the way @peacockTV allowed Selena’s kidney transplant to be joked about not once but TWICE. the only reason an apology was even issued is because they got caught.
— ???????????? (@6inchSeI) November 28, 2020
Someone’s life threatening auto immune disease isn’t easy leverage for your tv show.
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/zM8R5iz9Rz
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ!
— ?????????????? (@SELPINKCOMING) November 28, 2020
This is a HUGE lack of respect, not only with Selena but with all the people who are or who have been through the same things as her. This matter should be brought up in a respectful manner and not in such a low and dirty.#RespectSelenaGomez pic.twitter.com/NqfrrSIydO
The streaming service and NBCUniversal apologised for the references in a statement to Variety.
They said: "We apologise. It was never our intention to make light of Selena's health. We have been in touch with her team and will be making a donation to her charity, The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC."
