News | Entertainment
29 Jan 2026 1:41
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Francia Raisa has received an apology from the producers of 'Saved by the Bell' after the show joked about Selena Gomez's kidney transplant

    The rebooted version of the hit sitcom was widely criticised on social media over the weekend after an episode featured two characters speculating about Selena's donor, and although Francia - who donated her organ to her pal after she suffered complications from lupus - has been in touch with the makers of the programme, she's concerned the gag may have hurt other donors


    The 32-year-old actress said on her Instagram Story: "Some of the cast and producers have reached out to me personally to apologize for this and I truly appreciate that.

    "But I do want to acknowledge that this public apology from the network should acknowledge the donors that could have been offended by this. It's not about me, it's about acknowledging the great role that donors play (sic)"

    During episode six of the reboot, two of the show's stars argued over who actually donated a kidney to Selena.

    One of the actresses said: "I know for a fact that Selena Gomez’s kidney donor was Justin Bieber‘s mom. God, I wish that I had my phone so that I could prove it."

    In response, the other said: "Prove what? That you’re an idiot? It was Demi Lovato‘s kidney. They’re best friends, like you and I were."

    During another scene, the words "Does Selena Gomez even have a kidney?" are seen written on the walls.

    The controversial scenes prompted the hashtag #RespectSelenaGomez to start trending on Twitter, with fans of the music star taking to the micro-blogging platform to express their anger.

    The show’s ex ecutive producers, Peacock and NBCUniversal subsequently issued an apology.

    They said in a statement: "We apologise. It was never our intention to make light of Selena’s health. We have been in touch with her team and will be making a donation to her charity, The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     28 Jan: Elle Fanning broke down in tears upon finding out she had received her first Oscar nomination
     28 Jan: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is pregnant
     28 Jan: Bart Johnson says High School Musical was "terrible" for his career early on
     28 Jan: Emilia Clarke fears her life-threatening condition could be inherited by her future children
     28 Jan: Martin Short nearly ruined Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's wedding after he cut into their cake before it was served
     28 Jan: Jessie Buckley is "so proud and honoured" to have been nominated for an Oscar
     28 Jan: Taraji P. Henson wants to "convince" Viola Davis to join The Masked Singer
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard is adamant the axing of Scott Robertson will not cause further fallout once they're in camp later in the year More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Reserve Bank may have to step in and use interest rate hikes to cool inflation More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    While the result of tomorrow morning's fourth T20 against India remains important to Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram, the team is looking beyond the scoreboard 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Elle Fanning broke down in tears upon finding out she had received her first Oscar nomination 21:31

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC is thankful the A-League has become such a cut-throat competition 21:17

    Politics:
    Iranian doctor who fled to Australia after operating on massacre victims estimates death toll in tens of thousands 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is pregnant 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Bart Johnson says High School Musical was "terrible" for his career early on 20:31

    Entertainment:
    Emilia Clarke fears her life-threatening condition could be inherited by her future children 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Martin Short nearly ruined Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's wedding after he cut into their cake before it was served 19:31

    Entertainment:
    Jessie Buckley is "so proud and honoured" to have been nominated for an Oscar 19:01

    Law and Order:
    The first victim of the Mount landslide's been formally identified by the Coroner as Max Furse-Kee 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd