Demi Lovato sets the record straight on Selena Gomez friendship

Singer-actor Demi Lovato offered a heartfelt update on her long-standing friendship with fellow Disney Channel alum Selena Gomez, saying she’ll “always be grateful” for the connection they first forged as children. Lovato shared the sentiment during an appearance on the March 3 episode of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, hosted by Keke Palmer.

Discussing her early years in the spotlight, Lovato, who starred on child television programs with Gomez before both rose to fame on Disney Channel, said the friendship gave her a sense of safety as she entered an often competitive environment. “What was beautiful is, Selena and I had a friendship prior to Disney Channel because we were actually on Barney together, and so I felt this safety when I came into the Disney Channel, having a built-in friendship there already,” Lovato said on the podcast.

She went on to underscore just how meaningful that foundation has been over the years. “I’m so grateful for that, and will always be grateful for the friendship that I have and continue to have with her,” Lovato said, reflecting on their decades-long bond from early childhood into adulthood.

Lovato also addressed some of the challenges they faced as young performers, recalling a time when fans and media often played up comparisons between her, Gomez and other Disney contemporaries. She acknowledged that dealing with those comparisons could be “challenging” as a young artist, but said the support of her family and friends, including Gomez, helped her navigate that period.

Their friendship has seen ups and downs over the years, with both artists candidly discussing different phases of their lives in public interviews. But Lovato’s remarks on Palmer’s podcast suggest that despite those fluctuations, there remains mutual respect and appreciation between the two.

Fans of both stars, who first worked together in the early 2000s and went on to become successful musicians and actors, welcomed Lovato’s comments, noting that their friendship has remained a meaningful part of both their personal and professional journeys.