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Demi Lovato says she feels ‘survivor’s guilt’ in wake of DMX overdose reports

Lovato suffered a near-fatal overdose in 2018

Clémence Michallon
New York City
Wednesday 07 April 2021 12:31 EDT
Related: Dancing with the Devil trailer

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Demi Lovato says she has been left feeling “survivor’s guilt” after reports stated that rapper DMX was left on life support due to an overdose.

The singer, who suffered a near-fatal overdose in 2018, was asked whether she has been affected by the news regarding DMX’s health in a recent interview with TMZ Live.

“When you saw the news about DMX over the weekend, did that scare you?” TMZ founder Harvey Levin asked Lovato.

“Yes, of course,” Lovato replied.

“Any time that I see somebody OD or even pass away that’s in the public eye, I immediately think, ‘That could have been you, had you not been putting all this work into the last couple years of your life.’”

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The singer added: “I feel like there’s times when I’ve even talked about feeling survivor’s guilt, because you do ask yourself, ‘Why am I still here, and why are others not?’

“It’s a challenging thing to get over, but ultimately I had to realize that every day is a day that someone else doesn’t get. Every day that I’m here on this Earth is a day that I need to be counting my blessings for, and just be appreciative and grateful for.”

Lovato has discussed her 2018 overdose publicly in the newly released documentary Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil, now streaming on YouTube.

DMX, 50, was taken to a hospital on Friday after suffering a heart attack, his lawyer Murray Richman told The Associated Press. Richman did not confirm reports to the news agency stating that DMX had overdosed on drugs.

The rapper has spoken about his drug use, telling People's Party with Talib Kweli in November 2020 that he was unknowingly given crack aged 14.

In 2019, a post shared on DMX’s Instagram account stated that “in his ongoing commitment to putting family and sobriety first, DMX has checked himself into a rehab facility. He apologises for his cancelled shows and thanks his fans for their continued support.”

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