In a painfully ironic twist, an episode of The Good Fight that tackled "cancel culture" has been met with an abundance of backlash.
The fourth episode of the series' fifth season features a scene in which investigator Jay, played by Nyambi Nyambi, asks if there are any subjects which are simply "off-limits" for jokes.
Jim, played by Ifádansi Rashad, declares: "Selena Gomez's Kidney Transplant."
When will people stop doing this !!! RESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/QdLX2PUTYo— me L\u1d0a (@me L\u1d0a) 1627953987
Fellow investigator Marissa, played by Sarah Steele, subsequently asks if they "can get canceled for even joking about being canceled".
The answer would seem to be yes.
In 2017, actress and singer Selena Gomez announced she had undergone a kidney transfer after being diagnosed with lupus.
She posted a photo of herself in her hospital bed, hand in hand with her donor, actor Francia Raisa.
Selena's fans, or "selenators," were not at all happy that The Good Fight would make a joke at the expense of someone's health, and made their displeasure known on Twitter.
As a result, RESPECT SELENA GOMEZ swiftly began trending.
the kidney transplant was a life threatening situation and i don\u2019t understand how it could ever cross someone\u2019s mind to make fun of it \n\nRESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/UHpyh2brm8— feli (@feli) 1627952797
Show some respect to her, she is such an unproblematic celebrity, she loves her selenators so much. She didn't get the credit she deserves Don't make jokes on such an important issue \nRESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/wJ4ZGoI2am— selenagomez_fanpage (@selenagomez_fanpage) 1627956617
this woman deserves all the love and happiness, it's so sad how people use a hurtful moment for her just for nasty jokes, put some respect on her name\n\nRESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/LswJ6KBuc6— . (@.) 1627954184
selena's transplant isn't something to joke about, she and francia deserve better \n\nRESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/dcsmcEsUVJ— \u064b (@\u064b) 1627953726
how miserable do you have to be to take someone\u2019s trauma/illness/struggles and use them for jokes, like just be a decent human being \n\nRESPECT SELENA GOMEZpic.twitter.com/QdHUjrLnth— feli (@feli) 1627953310
It's disgusting, like what makes it okay?!— Jenaya\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9 (@Jenaya\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf9) 1627961033
Gomez herself also took to Twitter to express her disappointment that The Good Fight used her very personal experience as a joke.
I am not sure how writing jokes about organ transplants for television shows has become a thing but sadly it has apparently. I hope in the next writer\u2019s room when one of these tasteless jokes are presented it\u2019s called out immediately and doesn\u2019t make it on air.— Selena Gomez (@Selena Gomez) 1628033236
"I'm not sure how writing jokes about organ transplants for television shows has become a thing, but sadly it has apparently."
"I hope in the next writer's room when one of these tasteless jokes are presented, it's called out immediately and doesn't make it on air."
As alluded to in her tweet, this, rather surprisingly, isn't the first time Gomez's kidney transplant was used as a punchline on television.
An episode of the first season of the Saved By The Bell revival on Peacock made multiple jokes about Gomez's procedure.
One scene had two background actors arguing over whether Gomez's donor was Demi Lovato or Justin Bieber's mother, and another featured a wall spray painted with the question, "Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?"
Fans were quick to express their disgust, resulting in NBC issuing a formal apology, while also removing the scene from the streaming platform, and making a donation to The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC.
Representatives from CBS and The Good Fight have yet to comment on the matter.
But Lopez's "Selenators" once again came en masse to applaud her classy response.
KILL EM WITH KINDNESS— burbuja (@burbuja) 1628033262
Exactly! It\u2019s disgusting that you have to address this & that us as your fans have to constantly defend you. We love you so much queen & we always gonna ride for you! Respect Selena Gomez— Lima\ud83e\udd8b\ud83e\udd9a\ud83d\udc97\u2728 (@Lima\ud83e\udd8b\ud83e\udd9a\ud83d\udc97\u2728) 1628033346
it\u2019s absolutely disgusting that this thought would even cross someone\u2019s mind ever let alone to say on television. we love you!! you are a survivor and advocate and warrior and so amazing!!— Laura (@Laura) 1628033407
The support from her "Selenators" did not go unnoticed by Gomez, who expressed her gratitude on Twitter, while also promoting being an organ donor.
My fans always have my back. LOVE YOU. If you are able to please sign up to be an organ donor https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up?gclid=CjwKCAjw0qOIBhBhEiwAyvVcf1WyHSKsuXd8M1YKxLbLYngULjmBpkkm8kxBOWHW1XeGOMnvIhDb0RoChjYQAvD_BwE\u00a0\u2026— Selena Gomez (@Selena Gomez) 1628033236
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