Skip to content

Top Navigation

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • News
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Coronavirus
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Real Estate
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Tech
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping
    • Coupons

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Logout
Subscribe

Explore PEOPLE.com

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Every Tiara Worn at a Royal Wedding

      From Princess Beatrice to Meghan Markle Read More Next
    • Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat

      Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app Read More Next
    • The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana

      Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old Read More Next
  • News

    News

    See All News

    Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90

    Sean Connery died on Oct. 31 at age 90
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    See All Entertainment

    Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now?

    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Coronavirus
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle

    Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype

    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Real Estate
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Tech
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    • Coupons

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

People is on Community!
Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more.
Text: 212-479-1704
  1. People.com
  2. Music
  3. Everything Demi Lovato Has Said About Love and Relationships: 'You're Never Truly Expecting It'

Everything Demi Lovato Has Said About Love and Relationships: 'You're Never Truly Expecting It'

Before the singer and her fiancé Max Ehrich called off their engagement on Sept. 24, here's what Lovato had to say about matters of the heart

By Darlene Aderoju
Updated September 24, 2020 06:31 PM
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet

1 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Demi Lovato's "Fluid" Relationship with Love

Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images

Demi Lovato — who PEOPLE confirmed on Sept. 24 has called off her two-month engagement with Young and the Restless actor Max Ehrich —  knows a thing or two about love and its ups and downs. From emotional tweets to inspirational lyrics and candid interviews, here are some of the most interesting (and sometimes shocking) things Lovato, 28, has said about love, dating and relationships. 

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"Love Is Like Death"    

Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty

Lovato predicted her Superbowl 2020 performance a decade in advance, but did she predict her future romances too? Back in 2009, a younger Lovato told the world that "love is like death. You anticipate it, but when it happens you were never truly expecting it." So based on what she wrote on Twitter, it's safe to say that some of her former flames probably caught her by surprise. 

2 of 14

3 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

What Else Did 2009 Demi Say About Love?  

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

It seems 2009 was an expressive year for the star, who also explained what she feels is the difference between love and the initial spark in a tweet that year. 

"Attraction is the spark that ignites when you first kiss, Love is the look in your eyes when you finally pull away," she wrote on Twitter that October.  

3 of 14

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

“I Really Wouldn’t Be Alive Today Without Him"  

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

If you're wondering why Lovato has unwavering love for her ex Wilmer Valderrama (popularly known for his role as Fez in That '70s Show), 40, it's because she credits him for standing by her side as she battled with substance abuse earlier in her career. Lovato and the actor took a break from their relationship when she entered treatment for physical and emotional issues in 2010, but reunited in November of 2011. They kept their romance low-key for quite some time thereafter, but in March 2015 she publicly thanked him with a post on Instagram for his support. “I wish I could put into words how grateful I am for this man right here,” she wrote on Instagram. “But my love has grown to a level that words could never possibly express how much this man completes me. He’s loved me the way I never thought I deserved to be loved and with this day marking my 3rd year sober After sharing my ups, putting up with my downs and supporting my recovery he still never takes credit and I want the world to know how incredible his soul is.” She wrapped her heartfelt sentiments with, “I really wouldn’t be alive today without him. I love you Wilmer.”

4 of 14

Advertisement

5 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"I Was on Dating Apps for a While" 

Credit: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.

During a hilarious apperance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in March, Lovato opened up about more things than one. First, she shared that she still wants to lock lips with Rihanna. But she also spilled some tea about whether or not she used dating apps on her quest to find love. 

“No, I was on dating apps for a while but as I’ve spent some time with myself over the past couple months, I realized that I am the type of person that will find any way to regulate when I’m sad or lonely or whatever,” she told DeGeneres. “I have to fight those battles on my own and I can’t let somebody come in and fix those issues for me. So right now, I’m single and spending my Saturday nights by myself.” Three weeks later, news broke that Lovato and Ehrich were an item. 

5 of 14

6 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

When It Comes to Self-Love — "If I can do it, you can too!" 

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty

The "Anyone" singer told fans that she wasn't feeling too great about herself during a photo shoot in 2018. Simultanously, she shared that she powered through it despite feeling low because of the love she has for herself. She concluded by encouraging her followers to practice self-love as well. 

"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!" she wrote on Twitter.

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"I Love Me"  

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

In her latest single, "I Love Me" Lovato reiterates the importance of self-love above all else. The singer croons about realizing that she will always have herself at the end of the day, even when things aren't working out romantically. 

“Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone / And I always got my finger on the self destruct,” she sings. “I wonder when I love me is enough.”

“Why am I always looking for a ride or die / Cause mine’s the only heart I’m gonna have for life,” she continues. “After all the times I went and f— it up / I wonder when I love me is enough.”

7 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

In Lovato's World, Exes Can Be "Best Friends" After Breaking Up 

Credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images

When Lovato and Valderrama officially called it quits in June 2016, they released a joint statement on Instagram and revealed that their decision to end their relationship was amicable. They also said they would likely continue on as "best friends." 

“After almost 6 loving and wonderful years together, we have decided to end our relationship. This was an incredibly difficult decision for both of us, but we have realized more than anything that we are better as best friends,” the message said. “We will always be supportive of one another. Thank you to everyone who has offered us kindness and support over the years. With only love, Wilmer & Demi.”

8 of 14

Advertisement

9 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

“I Think My Heart Is Always with Wilmer" 

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

Can romantic lovers be platonic friends? In the case of Lovato and Valderrama — yes.

Valderrama “always cared deeply for her and they truly remained friends after they broke up," a source told PEOPLE after Valderrama visited the singer when she was hospitalized after her drug overdose in July 2018. 

One year prior to the caring gesture, Lovato candidly explained why they would be better off as friends.  

“The sparks never faded but there are issues that I haven’t conquered yet that I know I won’t conquer if I’m relying on somebody else to take care of the loneliness. I just wasn’t ready and there was so much in my life that I hadn’t explored yet … That was one of the reasons why we broke up because I’ve never been alone,” she said in her 2017 documentary Simply Complicated. “It had nothing to do with falling out of love, we decided together we just probably are better as friends.”

At the time however, she was still open to rekindling that romantic spark. "I do have moments where it’s late at night and I’m lonely and I wonder if I made the right decision because love is a gamble. I don’t know if I’ll lose him for the rest of my life,” she said. “I think my heart is always with Wilmer, I think it was with Wilmer, I think it is with Wilmer, I think it will be. Because you don’t share six years with somebody and not give them a piece of your heart and vice versa. I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to meet anybody that compares to him.”

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"I Think It's Healthy to Be Able to Start Over with Someone Else" 

Credit: New Music Daily with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1

After breaking things off with her ex of six years Wilmer Valderrama, Lovato opened up to Glamour and revealed that she had to let go of baggage in order to be at a good place with herself again. “I think it’s healthy to be able to start over with someone else. Being sick was always a part of my relationship with him; I always had something wrong with me. I needed to let go of that,” she explained. 

10 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"Love Is Necessary, Heartbreak Is Unavoidable"   

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

In Simply Complicated, Lovato told fans about the most important lessons she has learned. “The last decade has taught me a lifetime of lessons. I’ve learned that secrets make you sick, I’m learning how to be a voice and not a victim, I’ve learned sex is natural, I’ve learned that love is necessary, heartbreak is unavoidable and loneliness is brutal. I’ve learned that the key to being happy is to tell your truth, and be okay without all the answers,” she said in the documentary. 

11 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

"You can find [love] in any gender."   

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

In her 2018 cover story with InStyle, Lovato described her sexuality as “very fluid”.

The singer went on to explain that she enjoys being able to hit it off with anyone regardless of gender because of her sexuality. “I think love is love,” she said. “You can find it in any gender. I like the freedom of being able to flirt with whoever I want.” 

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

13 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

“I’m Not Suffering Because I’m Alone" 

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

In her March 2018 story with InStyle, Lovato dished on “embracing her independence” in multiple areas of her life, including the romance department. The songstress revealed that she did not feel less than because she was single at the time. In fact, Lovato felt she was able to learn more about herself when she was free of romantic distractions. 

“I’m not suffering because I’m alone,” she told the outlet. “There were many years I was in a relationship and I wasn’t learning about myself. Now I’m learning about what I like, what I need, and what I want.”

13 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

14 of 14

FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Material Things Can't Replace What "Love and Appreciation and Gratitude Can" (And Lovato Wants to Start a Family!) 

Credit: Demi Lovato/Instagram

In a January interview with Zane Lowe on New Music Daily for Apple Music’s Beats 1, Lovato revealed that she would like to start a family before the new decade's end. Speaking further on relationships and her accomplishments, the star shared that her perspective has changed over the years and that now, love is critical. “For my whole career, I always was like, ‘Oh, I want a Grammy so bad,’ or ‘I want that,’ ‘And a No. 1 here, a No. 1 there.’ All of that stuff is great and if you can accomplish that, that’s awesome. But I just know personally it doesn’t fill that hole inside of me that only love and appreciation and gratitude can fill,” she said.

14 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Darlene Aderoju

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 14 Demi Lovato's "Fluid" Relationship with Love
2 of 14 "Love Is Like Death"    
3 of 14 What Else Did 2009 Demi Say About Love?  
4 of 14 “I Really Wouldn’t Be Alive Today Without Him"  
5 of 14 "I Was on Dating Apps for a While" 
6 of 14 When It Comes to Self-Love — "If I can do it, you can too!" 
7 of 14 "I Love Me"  
8 of 14 In Lovato's World, Exes Can Be "Best Friends" After Breaking Up 
9 of 14 “I Think My Heart Is Always with Wilmer" 
10 of 14 "I Think It's Healthy to Be Able to Start Over with Someone Else" 
11 of 14 "Love Is Necessary, Heartbreak Is Unavoidable"   
12 of 14 "You can find [love] in any gender."   
13 of 14 “I’m Not Suffering Because I’m Alone" 
14 of 14 Material Things Can't Replace What "Love and Appreciation and Gratitude Can" (And Lovato Wants to Start a Family!) 

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

PEOPLE.com

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap
  • Student Offer this link opens in a new tab

Connect

People is on Community!
Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more.
Text: 212-479-1704
Newsletter Sign Up
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
© Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. People is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Manage Push Notificationsthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab

Manage Push Notifications

If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Google Chrome and Android, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://people.com

View image

Everything Demi Lovato Has Said About Love and Relationships: 'You're Never Truly Expecting It'
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.