HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Tuesday, July 24, TMZ broke news that singer, songwriter and actress Demi Lovato was transported to a hospital after an apparent drug overdose at her Hollywood Hills home.
Reports noted that the singer overdosed on heroin, but that allegation was later disputed. The drug Narcan was used on Lovato, which is used to treat narcotic overdoses. The singer posted pictures on Monday, July 23 via social media of her celebrating with friends in West Hollywood.
A source from Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to CNN that they received a call at 11:22 a.m. for a medical emergency and transported a 25-year-old woman to a hospital. A senior law enforcement officer indicated that Lovato is stable, conscious and breathing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In a public statement, Lovato’s representative said, “Demi is awake and with her family who want to express thanks to everyone for the love, prayers and support. Some of the information being reported is incorrect and they respectfully ask for privacy not speculation as her health and recovery is the most important thing right now.”
Lovato’s hospitalization comes after she publicly confirmed that she relapsed after celebrating 6 years of sobriety last March. The singer has been open about her personal struggles with alcohol and substance addiction, self-abuse, mental issues and eating disorders.
She was scheduled to appear on the new Fox game show, “Beat Shazam,” hosted by Jamie Foxx on Tuesday night, but the episode was pulled. Her guest appearance was filmed in December 2017.
The singer was set to preform in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Thursday, July 26 as part of the city’s beach concert series, but she will not be preforming. CRDA Executive Director Matt Doherty told the press that they are searching for someone to fill the spot, and said, “We are clearly concerned with what’s happened with Demi Lovato today. Our thoughts and prayers are with her at this time.”
Lovato got her start as a child star on the television show “Barney & Friends.” Her breakthrough role came in 2008 when she landed the starring role in the Disney Channel film “Camp Rock,” and its sequel “Camp Rock 2:The Final Jam.” She signed with Hollywood Records in 2008 and released her debut album, “Don’t Forget,” the same year. She has released a total of five albums: “Here We Go Again” (2009), “Demi” (2013), “Confident” (2015), and “Tell Me You Love Me” (2017). The singer has had seven top-20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
She starred in the TV series “Sonny With a Chance” from 2009-2011, and was featured on the U.S. singing competition series “The X-Factor” as a judge and mentor in 2012 and 2013. She released the book “Stay Strong: 365 Days a Year,” in 2013 and a YouTube documentary that focused on her issues with addiction in 2017, called “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated.”
Celebrities and fans went to social media to provide support for the singer and her family after hearing of her hospitalization. In a single from her 2017 album, “Sober,” Lovato sings, “To the ones who never left me we’ve been down this road before/ I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore,” and, “I’m sorry that I’m here again/ I promise I’ll get help/ It wasn’t my intention/ I’m sorry to myself.”
Ariana Grande tweeted, “I love u @ddlovato.” Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, “I love @DDLovato so much. It breaks my heart that she is going through this. She is a light in this world, and I am sending my love to her and her family.”
Written By Katie Trojano