"Saved by the Bell" Creators Apologize for Selena Gomez Kidney Transplant Joke
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The new Saved by the Bell reboot was in some hot water over the weekend after fans took note over a joke involving Selena Gomez.
During the show's sixth episode, the students of Bayside High had their phones taken away, causing them to go crazy over not being able to use it to text their friends or even look things up. Two characters got into a fight on who donated their kidney to Selena Gomez. However, they shouted that it was either Justin Bieber, her ex-boyfriend, or her ex-BFF Demi Lovato.
In another scene, the words "Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?" could be seen spray painted on the background.
i wonder what was going through they minds when they wrote this, did they actually think this was funny?? respect selena gomez. pic.twitter.com/wpMG2kM5zd
— ًemery (@btchlena) November 28, 2020
"Respect Selena Gomez" started trending over the controversy with many fans also targeting the show's cast and creators in the process.
It’s not funny to make jokes about someone else’s illness, she's been through a lot and she deserves better treatment.
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/YEp5MrpeC2— ℂ𝔸ℕ𝔻𝕐 🍬. (@M_Taeganger) November 28, 2020
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.
Someone’s life threatening auto immune disease isn’t easy leverage for your tv show.
RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/zM8R5iz9Rz— 𝕯𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖊𝖓 (@6inchSeI) November 28, 2020
According to Variety, the show's producers, along with Peacock and NBCUniversal Television, have apologized over the joke and made a donation for lupus research.
"We apologize. 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," they said in a statement.
Francia Raisa, who donated her kidney to Selena, also spoke out against the issue.
"Appreciate the apology but let’s not forget about the donors that potentially felt offended and dismissed from the spray paint written on the wall," she wrote on Twitter. "As a kidney donor I want to show love and let other donors know that you are not alone. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are so brave and your selfless act is very much appreciated and valued!"
Appreciate the apology but let’s not forget about the donors that potentially felt offended and dismissed from the spray paint written on the wall https://t.co/HIwa30PKMM
— Francia Raisa (@franciaraisa) November 28, 2020
As a kidney donor I want to show love and let other donors know that you are not alone. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are so brave and your selfless act is very much appreciated and valued! 🙏🏽
— Francia Raisa (@franciaraisa) November 28, 2020
Selena has yet to speak out over the incident on her social media accounts, so it's likely we might not hear from her about it.
Saved by the Bell is currently streaming on Peacock.
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