Demi Lovato recently posted about a "spiritual" trip she took to Israel, but some fans weren't happy with the lavish photos. Some have accused the singer of taking a political stance in the ongoing Isarel and Palestine conflict, which prompted her to turn off the comments on her Instagram.
After hearing what fans had to say about the situation, she revealed that the trip was free "in exchange for a few posts." She continued. "No one told me there would be anything wrong with going or that I could possible be offending anyone. With that being said, I'm sorry if I've hurt or offended anyone, that was not my intention." Lovato isn't the only artist to face criticism for visiting Israel, as Lana Del Rey faced backlash last year for a planned performance that was indefinitely postponed.
"Sometimes people present you with opportunities and no one tells you the potential backlash you could face in return," Lovato added on her Instagram Story apology. "This was meant to be a spiritual experience for me, NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT and now I realize it hurt people and for that I'm sorry. Sorry I'm not more educated, and sorry for thinking this trip was just a spiritual experience."
It is unclear who paid for the trip, although there has been a strong push for tourism from the Israel government in recent years. In 2019 alone, the country has welcomed over 3.5 million tourists, Globes reported. "Going against all advice right now and apologizing because it feels right to me," Lovato wrote. "I'd rather get in trouble for being authentic to myself, than staying quiet to please other people. I love my fans, all of them, from all over."
See her full response to the criticism above. In her original post, she wrote, "This trip has been so important for my well-being, my heart, and my soul."
