Early last month, Disney star Demi Lovato, 18, pulled out of a tour with the Jonas Brothers after an altercation at an airport with a female backup dancer. Apparently Demi punched the girl in the face for allegedly snitching on her for partying. Demi was quickly whisked off for “treatment,” with her people insisting that it was for emotional issues and was not a drug rehab. There were stories that Demi was seen doing cocaine at parties before all this went down and we’ve heard rumors for some time that she’s been doing drugs.
Now we’re hearing that the victim, dancer Alex Welch, is consulting a plastic surgeon about her injuries and is seeking a settlement from Demi. Her lawyer tells Radar Online that “Alex is seeking a settlement, an apology from Demi and a donation made to a charity of her choice.” If no settlement is reached, Welch plans to sue sometime next week. It looks like that won’t be necessary, because Welch’s lawyer tells Radar that the parties are close to reaching a settlement.
Welch has granted interviews to People Magazine and Inside Edition. She told People that Demi still hasn’t apologized, and she confirmed earlier details of the attack – that Demi accused her of snitching and punched her in the face for it. According to Welch, she isn’t the one who told on Demi for partying and she was shocked when Demi just strolled up to her on the plane, punched her in the face and walked away:
“We were on the plane with the Jonases having this awesome time and I didn’t get a call or text from Demi or a ‘hey, you got a problem with me,’ nothing. And she walks up and punches me and literally walked away and got in her seat.” – People
“Demi walked up to me and she just punched me. It was like the definition of a sucker punch!”…
“Of course there was like a shock thing about it, because I wasn’t expecting it, I had no idea why.
“It happened so fast, that’s why no one could react. It was one of those things were I was sitting there, she walked up, just punched me really hard and walked away as fast as she could,” says Welch. “My face, it immediately swelled up we put ice on it the whole ride back.”
“Did she say anything before or after hitting you?” asks [Inside Edition’s] Moret.
“No I didn’t hear anything from her,” says Welch.
Dramatic photos show the bruises on Welch’s face, allegedly inflicted by Lovato. Welch says Lovato believed she’d been leaking stories about the troubled star, but Welch says that never happened.
She says, “We were friends, we were really good friends. I think that’s one of the hard things, is to think that a friend would do that.” – Inside Edition
[From People and Inside Edition]
I get why this girl wants a settlement, and I get why she’s talking to the press – to put the pressure on Demi’s people. It just seems so predictable though. Demi should face the consequences for punching this girl, whatever that may be, and I don’t blame Welch for suing. I would like to see Welch press criminal charges for assault as well. It might be complicated given that this went down on a private airplane, however. It’s unclear whether the plane was in the air at the time, but it sounds like it was.
Why is she seeing a plastic surgeon? From what I see it’s a black eye and that’s it. I’ve never heard of having surgery because of a black eye. It’s not even that bad of a black eye.
Predictable for victim Alex Welch to sue? Not as predictable as celebutards who think they can get away with bad behavior just because they’re famous. They need to be taught a lesson – that they can’t get away with it. If Demi Lovato wants to act like a menace, she should be punished for it. I hope Ms. Welch gets everything she’s asking for.
Sarah, I came in to say the same thing.
Oh, boo hoo babycakes. I’ve gotten worse injuries than that on the playground! You should have made it a little more dramatic with some black eyeshadow.
That line in the agreement about the donation to a charity of her choice looks like an attempt to make Welch look better. The agreement is basically money for me, public embarrassment for you and oh yeah, something to make me look good that doesn’t cost a dime of MY money.
Oh please. come on, its a black eye. Just take the money and shut up. Does she really want to be known as the girl that got punched by demi lovato? I wouldn’t. Id maybe press charges or negotiate a deal but speaking to tabloids, crying about plastic surgery, and releasing a picture? Lame.
Girls dont punch girls for no reason. Im sure theres two sides to everything
Of course she will…
Ditto @ Oi & gabs.
Demi…looks like a MEGA…bitch!
Just a quick comment about the plastic surgery – there are a lot of small connecting bones around the orbital rim that can get pushed out of place with a punch, leaving a flat spot or otherwise causing problems. We can’t tell if that is the case from this photo.
The woman got punched in the face – I’m not going to snark on her. Demi is in the wrong, not her.
I think that if they truly did have a friendship before this assault, Alex should just keep quiet, get the money if needed, and not make a bad situation worse. A friend would realize that Demi is in a really bad place. Of course it was wrong for Demi to assault her, and Alex should be compensated and apologized to. But if Alex really was Demi’s friend she would not be dragging this into the spotlight while that very friend is battling some hard issues.
Sigh, if there was some kind of serious damage around her eye, it wouldn’t look that way. I have had a black eye that looked way worse where my eye was partially swollen shut that didn’t need “surgery.” I understand its the way the aggressor punches the victim, however that claim appears to be unnecessary.
Girl is going to get paid, she knows it, but now she wants to start a smear campaign against Demi by saying she hasn’t apologized and that the punch came “out of nowhere.” I doubt that is the case, because it makes me think that she is omitting details of what actually happened.
File criminal charges, get paid in a classy way as opposed to going on inside edition blabbing on (I haven’t seen the interview).
@prell exactly!
anyone kinda impressed with how well demi punches?
I would’ve punched the little bitch back. Sorry I don’t condone violence at all but there is no way in hell I’m going to let anyone punch me and walk away. I would pounce her ass as she was running back to her seat. But that’s just me.
Ditto Crash; there are many fragile bones around that eye sockets that can be broken very easily. You don’t the notice the damage until the swelling goes down.
I don’t see why the incident occurring on a private plane would have anything to do with pressing charges; assault is assault no matter where it happens.
As far as a “smear campaign” goes, I don’t see how Alex Welch can make Demi look any worse than Demi has done already (shades of LL anyone?) Demi socked the girl & then IMMEDIATELY went into rehab & has been incommunicado for 5 weeks. That alone is evidence that she is off the rails & that something is seriously wrong.
I say sue away, Alex Welch, sue away. Rich self-important druggie bitches need to be held accountable for their actions.
EDIT: LOL @ Jezi! I’d probably sock her back too!
Here is my problem-once again instead of filing CRIMINAL charges for assault, we jut want the pay day. If Demi wasn’t rich and famous, it would have been a criminal charge at best.
Every time on of the people files a lawsuit for money instead of a criminal one, it brings their story to the level of mud. It’s like they know that the charges won’t stick.
@Bodhi haha, really, I don’t care who you are, you hit me, you better be careful…lol.
Why is everyone saying negative things about the VICTIM? I don’t understand…yes the whole plastic surgery thing is a little much, but getting punched in the FACE (let alone sucker punched) would warrant anyone to want to do something I think. The recent reports about Demi haven’t exactly put her in a good light, and it seems she’s not as sweet as everyone thought. She should definitely be held accountable for her actions, just as much as I feel Lindsay Lohan should have gone to jail (not rehab) for violating her probation (again) recently. I think it’s sad that some people are coming on here and saying “boo hoo” and that this victim is just out for money, just because the attacker happens to be famous and have a lot of money. Yes, Welch should also file criminal charges, but if I were in her shoes and got punched in the face by a little bully like Lovato, I’d seek the same damages.
What is wrong with these teen stars?? I had been encouraging my nine year old daughter to transfer her affection from Miley Cyrus (gag) to Demi Lovato. Now…not so much. Nine year olds shouldn’t have to ask about rehab and law suits. Sheesh
Hey this is America the most litigious lawyer ridden country in the world. I say sue away – besides, none of these disney clones have any real talent. Demi Levato isn’t Janis Joplin or Selena – she’s a manufactured disney product and if she had to make it on her own she’d still be waitressing at Shony’s and fronting the local cover band at the dive bar on weekends. No sympathy here.
The reason you go for the payday is because it has been proven time and again that celebrities get special treatment. I say, hit the little hussy right where she lives…in the pocket, because filing criminal charges ain’t gonna do diddly.
Demi sounds like a total Lindsay Lohan who just happens to hide her crazy better.
Hey, if half the blind items that point to Demi Lovato are true, it’s no wonder her people want Walsh to keep her mouth shut.
So why not take the money? She was wronged and Demi’s camp does not want her to sue. I’m not sure about criminal charges as it occurred in South America so we might not have jurisdiction? But if I were Alex Welch I’d be suing as well. If they were having a screaming match about it, that’s one thing. But they weren’t. Demi just walked up and socked her. (And #11, yes, I was surprised at her punching ability!).
Yeah, I’d be asking for a settlement too, celebrities can get away with murder in the courts. That’s if there was some reason why I didn’t punch her back. I don’t like violence, but if someone punched me then walked away, bitch would be getting tackled after she’d gone a metre.
For those who wonder why no criminal charges were files. The assault occurred on a private aircraft on a runway in Columbia. The charges would have to be filed in Columbia.
Further, Alex mentioned in her interview with People magazine that Demi ordered her crew into a room and threatened retaliation against the person who told on her. While Alex was not the tattle tail, it was premeditated assault and battery by Demi.
For those impressed with Demi’s punching ability. One only need to look at the large rings she is famous for wearing to know how so much damage was done. It’s a lot like using brass knuckles for a sucker punch… weapon?
Further, the fact that Demi as never offered any kind of apology shows that she has no remorse.
So this legal case is the only way that Alex could get any kind of justice.
I don’t know what the hell happened, but Demi didn’t have a right to hit the girl, and shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it simply because she’s famous (And has a pack of Disney attorneys defending their bottom line.)
It makes me sad… I feel *bad* for Demi because it’s obvious she’s going down the same road as so many other young actresses/Disney stars. I’d hope she’d really get some help as a result of this attention on her negative behavior, but I seriously doubt that’ll be the case. They just want to make it ‘go away’ as quickly as possible.
You have to wonder why this keeps happening over and over.
You know, I noticed that the people who support Alex Welch tend to live in a world of PC ridden litigations. Where they feel that it’s ok to sue someone for a minor injury to same effect as suing someone for beating the crap out of them with a baseball bat. You guys say DEMI is the real bully and what not yet let me ask you something. How is someone a bully when their mindset isn’t even in the right place? You say it doesn’t matter but how is that possible when you can’t even think straight? The typical argument I hear these days when it comes to Demi Lovato is “Mental illness don’t real.”
Well then if you believe that Mental illness “don’t real” you have to believe that things like sickness and diabetes “don’t real” either. Because a healthy mindset needs to be supported with healthy emotional support. Just like a healthy body needs nutritious support to make it function. This is NOT an opinion. This is scientific fact. Not saying that what Demi did was right, but any decent human being won’t blame Lovato for acting mentally ill when she was suffering from a mental illness.
And speaking of Alex Welch, the little Ambulance chaser that could, Since you live in a world of pointless PC litigations and no room for logic, I’m just trying to understand your sue happy ways. This is the same type of mentality that would file a bogus malpractice suit lawsuit against a hard working doctor with just so he can get a few bucks. That’s ten times more deplorable than giving someone a black eye. That’s character assassination and that’s ten times more reprehensible than giving some one a facial boo boo that will heal in two weeks. But unfortunately Character assassination isn’t against the law. Which can do more damage than any sort of physical violence.
Sorry but no. The real bully isn’t the disney actress who is put under a microscope. It’s the red headed dancer who decided to make a mockery of this judicial system and turn little black eye into a ****ing media circus.
First off, a lot of people here are morons. And I can’t really know where to begin. It shocks me to see people this stupid. It really does. First off a lot of you simpletons think that Alex can sue for whatever she wants. Which is not the case. She can’t sue for whatever because she is not owed what she WANTS. She is owed what she is DESERVED. Not what she THINKS she deserves. Fact is her injuries were small, so she deserves small compensations. And only that. For punis, she gets the amount PROPORTIONATE to her damages. THAT’S ALL. Nothing more, nothing less. The fact that she is going to see a plastic surgeon for her damages is a red flag that she is trying to extort this for all its worth. That is why people are bashing the “Victim” this is what we call overplaying the victim cars.
Second, If Alex DID get hurt and had broken bones and what not, she would have felt them when she was dancing. Someone mentioned this earlier that she wouldn’t be able to continue the tour and she wouldn’t be. Our faces and our BONES have something called NERVES. And jumping around and pulling off all those dance moves would really work up the nerves to the point of nausea. Since she claimed her nose, throat and respiratory system was damaged in the altercation. I call BS on that because those are NEEDED when pulling off those dance moves.
Third, I don’t know how people can say they would hit Demi back if they don’t condone violence. You’re telling me that you don’t condone violence, yet you would hit her back? Some of you guys really are morons. You can’t say the wrong thing for the right reason is right. It’s still wrong.
Fourth, this didn’t happen in the US. This happened IN south America. Where the US has no jurisdiction. So no charges will be pressed. At least criminal charges. So yeah. You need to brush up on your law. Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that you need a POLICE REPORT in order to file criminal charges. Since no report was filed and the incident went unreported, no criminal charges can be filed. Again, brush up on your law kiddo.
Fifth, what Alex is doing is the epitome of a Smear campaign. What you guys need to know is that Smear Campaign isn’t necessarily about telling lies and fabrications. Even though she is doing all that and what not, but she’s also telling her side while the other side can’t even defend themselves. This is what we call Witch Hunt mentality. Already deeming the other person guilty without hearing the other side. Like it or not, the person who committed the wrong deeds has rights too. Frankly going to “rehab” is the best thing Demi can do. She knows she has a problem and she is getting help for it. That’s commendable. For those of you who actually believe in second chances, and don’t share a Shirly Phelps like fire and brimstone mentality, that’s a good thing. It still gives me hope for the world. What Alex is doing is frankly deplorable. That is why we have something called DUE PROCESS. In a court of law, ALL the rights are respected. Not just one side.
Sixth, the reports of her doing drugs and what not are fabrications. Meaning that there are no grounds. Hell even the reps denied this constantly and what not, and you guys have no proof of these allegations. So you really can’t say she is a druggie or “self important” (That insult was pretty lame might I add) Also yes. Demi should be held accountable. However accountable does not mean she should be taken advantage of nor should she see the inside of a jail cell because for a first timer. Frankly its not up to you guys to determine what her “crime” (if any) was. It’s up to a judge of sound mind. Which rules you guys out. And yes CHELSEY I am talking to you oh inept one. Just because there are REPORTS of her, doesn’t mean they are true. Are you going to believe everything you hear despite the fact that there is no evidence to support these stories? Because there is no POSSIBLE way that stories are written for the sake of site hits and what not right?
Seventh. The “victim” is out for money. Because if this was between two friends, you don’t sue your own friends. At least not right away and at least not when one of them can’t defend them selves. This is the definition of being “out for money” if she cared about right and wrong she would take a different route. Also she wouldn’t resort to extortion. You say Demi should be held accountable, well what about the other side and their extortion ways? Sorry to break it to you but doing wrong for what YOU feel is right is still wrong. Like I said before, being held accountable does not mean being taken advantage of. And frankly wasting man power and legal sources for a frivolous lawsuit is just as deplorable. This has nothing to do with the “attacker” being famous. This has to do with right and wrong. The second Alex took THIS road, she became just as wrong as anyone else. Also let me ask you something. What is more evil in this world? Someone who takes the time to better themselves and tries to become a better person and LEARN through their mistakes, or the people who constantly remind them and hinder their rehabilitation process?
Seventh. You have ONE side of the story. Like I said before there are always TWO sides. And until you hear DEMI’s side, all this is, is a one sided story. In my experience, people don’t get hit for no reason. Not saying you deserve it, but there is always a story or an explanation behind it. Again, two sides to every story.
Eight, know what a “Bully” is. By definition, a BULLY is someone who habitually makes life a living hell for their victims for their OWN personal gain and OWN pleasure. Demi was acting out of mental sickness. NOT personal gain. Hence she is NOT a bully by definition. You guys are morons.
Nine, what kind idiot would say “nine year olds shouldn’t have to ask about rehab and lawsuits.” you mean to tell me you’re going to try and shelter your kids from the bad things in this world your entire life? What kind parent would do that? Yeah that’s a good idea. Shelter your children from reality. Make them more messed up when they enter the world and see things they know nothing about. Tell me how that works Charles Manson/.
Ten. Again Payday garnering is against the law. It’s what we call EXTORTION. So if you don’t feel Sympathy for Lovato because she is a celebrity. Then you cant feel sympathy for WELCH, because she is a celebrity of sorts as well. She has a following and is part of a famous dance group and is resorting to extortion techniques. So by YOUR logic, you can’t feel sympathy for Welch either. See how the logic here is flawed?
Eleven. There were no reports of her wearing rings. That is circumstantial and idiotic of people to assume. IO, I’d say that I expect more out of your intellect, but that would be a lie, at this point, I think it’s safe to assume that you’re just as idiotic as any PC ridden fool here. And again it is not up to YOU to determine what the “Crime” was. Its up to a court of law and people of sound mind.
Further more, the reason why Demi didn’t apologize is not because of REMORSE. It’s because she is in REHAB. She can’t apologize when she is in rehab and has no communication to the outside world. How stupid can you honestly be? Also in case you haven’t noticed, during the time of their legal proceedings, an apology can hinder any chances you have and a civil settlement outside of court. If you admit to something, you admit to EVERYTHING the person is accusing you of. Meaning that you have to pay for everything rather than just settle for a reasonable amount. Not to mention the doctors are telling her to steer clear of her celebrity life for the mean time. It’s RECOVERY BEFORE LIFE. Not LIFE BEFORE RECOVERY. Hence why she has not apologized…YET. But she probably issued a private one. Since that was the settlement procedures. So there goes your theory oh inept hater. Try again before you open your mouth.
And that’s all I gotta say about this.
“Yeah, I’d be asking for a settlement too, celebrities can get away with murder in the courts. That’s if there was some reason why I didn’t punch her back. I don’t like violence, but if someone punched me then walked away, bitch would be getting tackled after she’d gone a metre.”
So you don’t condone violence but you condone hitting back? Then you DO condone violence. You’re an idiot. You either do or you don’t. There is no way around it. Educate yourself you dumb ass.
“Hey, if half the blind items that point to Demi Lovato are true, it’s no wonder her people want Walsh to keep her mouth shut.”
Yeah and your proof of this is…where? you’re an idiot.
“I’d hope she’d really get some help as a result of this attention on her negative behavior, but I seriously doubt that’ll be the case.”
Cause you know these celebrities so well right? She checked into the rehab clinic herself. Meaning she CHOSE to make herself a better person. That alone is accountability and personal responsiblity. There are plenty of cases where people who chose to take action do better in life even in the celebrity world.
Also she settled with the dancer. THat’s technically NOT getting away with it. You know NOTHING about this person or her situation. Neither of you guys do. So stop sippin on haterade and quit being an ingoramus and join the rest of us here on planet earth. A little common sense will do you some good.