Poot who? Demi Lovato wants to lock the 2015 meme in the basement for good

It’s been a decade since the internet was blessed (or cursed?) with the birth of Poot Lovato, and Demi Lovato has made it clear: the meme is staying in the dungeon.

In a TikTok video posted on April 21, Lovato leaned into the chaos with a wink, poking fun at the hilarious alter ego that took over the internet back in 2015.

The songstress lip-synched to an audio clip responding to a fictional scenario:

“When someone asks me to let Poot out of the basement…”

The Cool for the Summer hitmaker then mouthed:

“What an offer, let me sleep on it though.”

And to shut the dungeon door once and for all, Lovato added the caption:

“And I’m never letting her out.”

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Wait, who is Poot Lovato?

For context (or for those who’ve blissfully erased this Tumblr history from their memory), Poot Lovato originated from a hilariously unflattering and clearly edited photo of Demi walking the 2014 Royal Variety Performance red carpet.

A Tumblr user then gave the distorted image a backstory, claiming it was Lovato’s “twin sister” who had been “locked in a basement her whole life.” The post read:

“This picture was taken the first time she went outside. Her name is Poot.”

The joke was so ridiculous that it went viral instantly. Poot became a staple of meme culture, a symbol of how the worldwide web can turn a blink into a legend.

Initially, Lovato wasn’t amused. They tweeted:

“Cool to see a s****y angle turn into a meme that circulates the internet to people’s amusement.”

But over time, they’ve embraced the absurd Poot story. In 2018, Lovato poked fun at the meme by tweeting:

“Poot is locked up … She’s allergic to sunlight.”

In 2023, Demi even rang in their 31st birthday with cupcakes decorated with edible Poot portraits. People are going to keep bringing up the iconic meme, so why not fully commit to it?

And thus, while the world may forever hold Poot in meme history, Demi’s metaphorical dungeon remains firmly locked… which is probably for the best.

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“Know that you’re not alone”: Demi Lovato shares powerful message about eating disorder recovery

The Poot revival comes just a month after Demi opened up about something deeply personal: their battle with an eating disorder. In a heartfelt set of Instagram Stories, the Give Your Heart a Break singer sent love and encouragement to others fighting similar battles.

“I wanted to remind all of you who may be struggling that you are WORTH RECOVERY and it’s more than okay to ask for help.”

They didn’t shy away from their own experience either, saying:

“It’s something that I always struggle with in the back of my mind, but the more I work on myself, talk to others and put myself first, the quieter that voice gets.”

The singer shared that healing isn’t always linear, but with kindness toward both your body and mind, progress is possible.

“Recovery isn’t a straight path - it’s full of ups, downs, and everything in between. But every time I choose to feed my body, challenge my thoughts, and show myself kindness, I’m taking a step forward.”

And in one of their most vulnerable admissions yet, they added:

“I deserve a life free from the grip of my eating disorder, and I'm fighting for that every single day. If you’re on this journey too, know that you’re not alone. We are so much more than our struggles. One day, one meal, one moment at a time.”