Errr… This ”Saved By The Bell” Reboot Scene Dared To Joke About Selena’s Kidney Transplant?

Selena Gomez fans aren’t happy—as they should be!—after their queen was mocked in an episode of the Saved By The Bell reboot on Peacock, and quickly made the phrase “Respect Selena Gomez” trend on Twitter.

According to screenshots and videos making the rounds on social media, one scene seemingly has the words “Does Selena Gomez even have kidneys?” scrawled on the wall behind a row of lockers. In another scene, two students discuss Selena’s surgery, with one saying: “I know for a fact that Selena Gomez‘s kidney donor was Justin Bieber‘s mom…I wish that I had my phone so that I could prove it.” The other replies, “Prove what? That you’re an idiot? It was Demi Lovato‘s kidney. They’re best friends, like you and I were.” 

‘RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ’ trends on Twitter after the reboot of ‘Saved By The Bell’ featured distasteful scenes making fun of Selena Gomez’s kidney transplant. https://t.co/yEQwSvry4F

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 28, 2020

a tv show called "saved by the bell" has "does selena gomez even have a kidney?" written on the wall. this is so disgusting and unnecessary. selena doesn't deserve this.

RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/u7IcPX8NqV

— ً (@jndoIIs) November 28, 2020

why is the Saved By the Bell reboot … using Selena Gomez’s health problems as a joke? pic.twitter.com/ncVzr2ALlZ

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— alex (@alex_abads) November 28, 2020

What is wrong with people? Making "jokes" about someone's disease is not funny, it's incredibly disrespectful!! She's been through hell and she's finally in a good and happy place in her life. RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ

— Rebeᴴ◟̽◞̽🐝 (@nojudgementh) November 28, 2020

The joke specifically referenced Selena’s life-saving kidney transplant, which was donated by her close friend Francia Raisa, back in 2017 after she was required to do surgery due to complications from Lupus, which she was diagnosed with in 2015.

RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ

It's NOT funny to mock someone for their illness! pic.twitter.com/RzsLYJBJ8f

— Ana ✨🦋🍑 (@yesimrare) November 28, 2020

NBC’s Peacock and executive producers have since issued an apology about the episode.“We apologize. It was never our intention to make light of Selena’s health,” the statement read. The streamer and the producers are also making a donation to the Disney alum’s charity. “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 added.

 

Seriously, how is this even possible? SMH.