The Disney Channel child star Demi Lovato recently shared on Instagram photos from her “magical” trip to Israel.

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Lovato has had a hard couple of years. From nearly dying on July 24, 2018, due to a drug overdose to recently receiving backlash for seemingly attacking Taylor Swift when she discredited Swift’s statement regarding Lovato’s manager, Scooter Braun, buying her masters.

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I am an American singer. I was raised Christian and have Jewish ancestors. When I was offered an amazing opportunity to visit the places I’d read about in the Bible growing up, I said yes. There is something absolutely magical about Israel.  I’ve never felt such a sense of spirituality or connection to God…something I’ve been missing for a few years now.  Spirituality is so important to me…to be baptized in the Jordan river – the same place Jesus was baptized – I’ve never felt more renewed in my life. This trip has been so important for my well-being, my heart, and my soul.  I’m grateful for the memories made and the opportunity to be able to fill the God-sized hole in my heart. Thank you for having me, Israel 💗

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Recently, Lovato traveled to Israel for a “sense of spirituality.”  In the post, Lovato can be seen being baptized in the Jordan River, the very river Jesus was said to be baptized in. Lovato was touched because she read about these places in the Bible growing up. She also can be seen placing her hand on one of the “stations of the cross,” a famous path which Jesus was said to have walked on his way to death. She was photographed by the Western Wall Plaza and the City of David, famous  landmarks.

She also went to Yad Vashem, which is the World’s Holocaust Museum and was “absolutely heartbroken.”

Although Lovato said in the post she “never felt more renewed in my life,” which was a statement within itself for a woman who almost died a little over a year ago, her post was met with major backlash.

Although the trip seemed nothing more than a personal vacation, news came out that Lovato was reportedly paid $150,000 to go on this trip by the Jerusalem Ministry and private donors. Lovato, was “extremely frustrated” that “no one told me there would be anything wrong with going or that I could possibly be offending anyone.”

Some fans said Lovato should be condemned for referring to Palestinian areas as “Palestine.”  Lovato clapped back at a fan, “I will not choose a side. I went to a place, for a religious purpose, THAT’S IT.”

Although Lovato accepted the money in exchange for a few posts about the trip, she claimed she was not making any political statements and was sorry that she “hurt people.”

This is not the first time a celebrity has been attacked for going to Israel. In 2018, Lorde was urged by New Zealand activists to cancel her concert in Tel Aviv. Lorde, due to the controversy, did in fact cancel the show and the activists were ordered to pay $12,000 in damages to which they refused to do.

Lovato on the other hand, has stood by her trip as the photos are still active, only difference is she has disabled the comments.

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