Demi Lovato successfully checks out of rehab only to be fat shamed by internet trolls

It's been a difficult year for Demi Lovato, who survived a near-deadly overdose back in July. The pop-star has, however, emerged triumphant: after 90 days in rehab, Lovato is back in the public eye.

Earlier this week, the 26-year-old took to Instagram to share a snap of herself looking happy and healthy as she cast her vote in the U.S midterm elections. "I am so grateful to be home in time to vote!" she captioned the picture.

This is the first time that Lovato has publicly posed for a photograph since being hospitalised, and it comes just days after she was spotted in Los Angeles, grabbing a coffee after a gym session.

Cultivating a healthy lifestyle has been the focus for the erstwhile Disney star, who has purportedly been spending time at a sober-living facility, as well as staying at her mother's house. According to a source close to the singer, Lovato is committed to living "a more relaxed lifestyle before she dives back into working."

And although the majority of her fans are happy to see her looking so healthy, she has also been the target of body-shaming trolls.

"Damn she got fat," one person commented on the snap, while another added "she turkied up."

"Looks like she gave up drugs for food," a third wrote. "Should start doing meth to keep thin."

However, most of Lovato's fans have been rallying around her, and have taken to social media to defend the singer and report the hurtful comments. "Better to gain weight and be alive than be skinny and on drugs, you people are so cruel," one well-wisher wrote. "After all she’s been through and her weight is all people can dwell on."

"She looks amazing and people need to stop bullying her," a third added, while another wrote "She is still a beautiful person inside and out and I am so proud of her Be kind to her please."

This is not the first time that Lovato has encountered body-shaming trolls. Earlier this year, the pop-star shared photos of her cellulite and stretch marks to Instagram with an empowering message to her young - and mostly female - fanbase.
I have cellulite just like the other 93% of women do," she wrote. "What you see on Instagram isn’t always what it seems to be. Let’s embrace our real selves."
And back in January, she opened up on Twitter about her decision to stop dieting. "Feeling gross today at a photo shoot but I'm choosing to accept what I see because I love myself for who I am and your love and support gets me through moments like this. If you're struggling as well, don't forget.. if I can do it, you can too!"

Lovato, who has been increasingly candid about her history of disordered eating, went onto say: "No longer depriving myself of treats (in moderation) and I'm not gonna lie, I put on a couple lbs since I've given up dieting BUT I've given up the chronic stress of what I eat because I don't want to set that example for my fans. No more food shaming myself!!"
You go, Demi!