Demi Lovato Defends Performing 'Heart Attack' At Heart Disease Event

Demi Lovato certainly made a choice and sang Heart Attack at a heart disease event.

The singer caused quite an upheaval  on social media by performing her 2013 hit at an annual American Heart Association event Wednesday. While some attendees at the New York City event may have found the choice distasteful, Lovato has since explained herself.

She spoke on the mind-heart connection, a representative for Lovato told Entertainment Weekly on Friday . It was a sensitive moment intended to champion the women in the room the very reason why Demi was at the event.

The event in question, an annual concert for the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women campaign, aims to celebrate a commitment to investing in womens heart health, according to the associations website . Entertainment Weekly reported Lovato promoted the event on social media Thursday to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease . 

The singer herself survived a heart attack in 2018 after a drug overdose .

I actually dont think people realize how bad it actually was, Lovato said in her 2021 Dancing With the Devil documentary, per EW . I had three strokes. I had a heart attack. I suffered brain damage from the strokes. I cant drive anymore.

Ill have blind spots in my vision so sometimes when I go to pour a glass of water, Ill totally miss the cup because I cant see it, the singer continued. Im really lucky to be alive.

Sources have since told TMZ that the heart association supported and encouraged Lovatos performance of the song.

Lovatos song choice, however, was polarizing for some fans.

she didnt think this one through, wrote one user on X, with another commenting : i [for real] cant stop laughing..how many ppl did that song choice decision go through before she performed it live??

Heart Attack hit No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 and went five-times platinum.

Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline .