Besides inviting six students who survived the mass school shooting onstage, she encourages the audience to donate to the CAST Foundation, an organization which provides mental health service.
- Feb 28, 2018
AceShowbiz - Demi Lovato kicked off her "Tell Me You Love Me" tour with a special tribute to survivors of Parkland shooting. The 25-year-old songstress brought six students who survived the mass school shooting onstage during her concert at San Diego on Monday night, February 26.
The six lucky students were Julius Castillo, Mackenzie Marie Chapman, Samantha Megan Deitsch, Maia Hebron, Eden Hebron and Sarah Sticker. "On February 14, one of the worst mass shooting in American history took place. These students were in the school that day. Please welcome them to the stage," Demi told the crowd before playing a piano rendition of "Warrior".
The former Disney darling also encouraged the audience to donate to the CAST Foundation, an organization that's currently on tour with Demi to provide mental health services to fans at each of her shows. "Let's come together as Lovatics, as people," she said. "This isn't about politics. It's about community."
Here’s a better video! #TellMeYouLoveMeTour pic.twitter.com/hyMG9kGPzp
— AMANDA🌹 (@amanda_waple) 27 Februari 2018
The students also took photos with the songstress backstage and shared them on social media. And according to Samantha, the "Sorry Not Sorry" hitmaker chartered a private jet to bring them from Florida to California.
Thank you for everything you have ever helped me with @ddlovato #staystrong #tellmeyoulovemetour #neveragain #msdstrong pic.twitter.com/GQDULEXYVn
— Sarah//a surviving warrior🖤 (@SarahStricker) 27 Februari 2018
still in shock! thank you so much for everything @ddlovato you and your team are so sweet and supportive❤️ pic.twitter.com/td1a69nO7V
— Sam deitsch #NEVERAGAIN (@samdeitsch) 27 Februari 2018
In a press release that was posted following the concert, Demi expressed her admiration for the students. "Tonight was our first night of the tour and it was incredibly special," she said. "I was able to bring out and meet a few of the students that had to experience the shooting in Florida on the 14th. It was such an honor to meet them and hear their courageous stories. I want to make sure their voices are being heard and we can provide them with the mental health and post-trauma cure they need."
currently on a private jet thanks to @ddlovato and get to meet my childhood idol which is crazy because if it was any normal week i’d be getting ready for school tomorrow. Can’t wait to be back at school but i can’t wait even more to meet demi!❤️
— Sam deitsch #NEVERAGAIN (@samdeitsch) 26 Februari 2018
Demi later appeared on CBS' "This Morning" to explain why she reached out to the student survivors and invited them to her show. "Seeing something that disturbing is just painful to watch," she said. "My heart goes out to them."
Last night, @DDLovato invited survivors from Florida's deadly school shooting to her concert to share their stories. pic.twitter.com/YTRDzIKKd6
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) 27 Februari 2018
