Demi Lovato on supporting Black Lives Matter, body acceptance, self-love through lockdown and wedding planning with The Young and the Restless star Max Ehrich – interview
Lovato’s ongoing support for the Black Lives Matter movement is just one part of a decade’s worth of activism by the Sorry Not Sorry star, who speaks out here about her struggles with mental health, sobriety and an eating disorder – and her recently announced engagement
Last month, Demi Lovato marked her 28th birthday by launching a fundraising campaign in honour of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed black woman who was fatally shot by police in March. Lovato’s page includes donation and petition links demanding justice for Taylor, who would have turned 27 in June.
“She’ll never have the opportunity to experience her 28th birthday,” said Lovato. “I knew how important it was to give back on my birthday, I knew that I wanted to help, and I just really connected with her because as a young female, I can’t imagine being in her position. She was asleep in her bed and I’m going to do everything I can to fight for justice for her.”
Lovato’s ongoing support for the Black Lives Matter movement is just one part of her decade’s worth of activism, speaking out about her struggles with mental health, sobriety and an eating disorder. In 2012, she won the MTV Video Music Award for best video with a message for Skyscraper, a searingly vulnerable ballad about overcoming adversity.
And at this year’s awards, which aired on August 30, Lovato was nominated for her self-love anthem I Love Me in the same category (changed to video for good last year). Rising R&B star H.E.R. ultimately took the prize for I Can’t Breathe, a Black Lives Matter protest song released this summer.
Here, Lovato talks about the making of I Love Me, body acceptance, new music and her recent engagement to The Young and the Restless actor Max Ehrich.
The first time you were nominated in the “message” category in 2012, you won for Skyscraper. Looking back, what does that song mean to you now?
The song is obviously incredibly important. It marked a chapter of my life where I grew a lot. I had to go through stuff, but I came out the other side stronger than ever before. And so I’ll always remember that with that song. This year, there’s a lot of really important issues that are talked about in this category. There’s always been a bigger purpose to music and these songs help you get through these tough times.