"GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER."
If you’ve spent any time on Stan Twitter or scrolling through deep-fried pop culture memes, you’ve seen those six words. They usually show up under a photo of a celebrity looking slightly annoyed or when a fandom is trying to protect their "fave" from a problematic influencer. But the "Demi Lovato stay away from her" moment isn't just a funny internet joke. It was a real, high-stakes confrontation that says a lot about how Demi protects her family—and how she’s eventually learned to laugh at her own intensity.
Most people using the meme in 2026 don't even know who Demi was actually yelling at. Honestly, the backstory is way more dramatic than the "Scream VI" promo that brought it back into the mainstream.
The Stalker Sarah Incident: Where It All Started
The year was 2016. Demi was in a different place back then, famously protective and often very online. The "her" in the phrase wasn't a rival pop star or a cheating ex. It was Madison De La Garza, Demi’s younger sister.
The target? Sarah M., better known to the internet as "Stalker Sarah." If you weren't following celeb gossip ten years ago, Sarah was a fixture in Los Angeles who made a name for herself by getting photos with literally every celebrity in existence. She wasn't exactly a paparazzi, but she wasn't just a fan either. She was... everywhere.
Demi reached her breaking point when Sarah was spotted hanging out with Madison, who was only 14 at the time. To Demi, this felt like a massive boundary violation. She didn't just send a private DM. She went nuclear on Instagram.
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Demi’s comments were visceral: "For anyone reading this: this girl has no regard for anyone's well being but her own. She completely takes advantage of people, even 14 year olds." And then, the killing blow: "GET A JOB. STAY AWAY FROM HER."
It was a big sister move. Pure instinct. But because it’s Demi—a woman whose life has been memed more than almost anyone in Hollywood—it became a permanent part of the internet’s vocabulary.
From Angry Instagram Comments to Official Merch
Fast forward a decade. Demi has been through a lot. A near-fatal overdose, multiple career shifts, a transition into a harder rock sound, and a very public battle with "California sobriety" (which she later ditched for full sobriety).
Somewhere along that road, she stopped fighting the memes.
In 2023, while promoting her song "Still Alive" for the Scream VI soundtrack, she leaned into it. She filmed a TikTok where she answers a phone call from Ghostface. Instead of screaming in terror, she just bellows, "GET A JOB! STAY AWAY FROM HER!" and slams the phone down. It was a meta-moment that signaled a shift in her brand. She was finally in on the joke.
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By 2025, she was even selling hats with the phrase on it. Imagine being so iconic that your most stressed-out, protective moment becomes a fashion statement.
Why the meme still hits in 2026
We live in an era of parasocial relationships. Fans feel like they own celebrities, and celebrities feel like they have to be accessible 24/7. When Demi shouted "stay away from her," she was drawing a hard line in the sand.
- It’s relatable: Everyone has that one person they want to tell to "get a job."
- It’s protective: In a world of oversharing, seeing a celeb protect their family is actually kind of refreshing.
- It’s versatile: You can use it for literally anything.
The "It's Not That Deep" Era
Right now, in early 2026, Demi is prepping for her It's Not That Deep Tour. The name itself feels like a nod to her past. For years, every single thing Demi did was analyzed. The frozen yogurt shop incident (where she criticized a small business for selling sugar-free "diet" items) became a week-long news cycle. People told her to stay away from social media for her own good.
And she actually did.
In recent interviews with People and The Independent, Demi’s been open about the fact that she doesn't look at the comments anymore. She’s 33 now. She’s married to Jordan "Jutes" Lutes. She’s focused on her vocals—which, if you caught her New Year’s Eve 2026 performance, are arguably the best they’ve ever been.
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She has this "compassion for the haters" vibe now. It’s a far cry from the woman who was ready to press charges against a professional fan on Instagram. She realized that you can't control the internet, so you might as well sell it a hat.
How to Handle Boundaries Like 2026 Demi
There’s actually a lesson in the "stay away from her" saga. It’s about the evolution of boundaries.
- Direct Communication (The 2016 Method): If someone is messing with your family, tell them to kick rocks. It might be messy, but it's honest.
- Strategic Silence (The 2024 Method): If the internet is yelling, you don't have to yell back. Log off.
- Monetize the Chaos (The 2026 Method): If you can't beat the meme, own it.
Demi Lovato has been a child star, a pop princess, a rock singer, and a meme queen. But the "stay away from her" era was really the start of her learning that she doesn't owe anyone her personal space—not even the people who buy her albums.
If you're going to use the meme today, use it with the knowledge that it came from a place of fierce sisterly love. And maybe, like Demi, learn to laugh when things get a little weird online.
Protect your peace by setting digital boundaries. Start by turning off notifications for non-essential apps and limiting your time in the comment sections of major news or celebrity accounts. If someone is consistently crossing your boundaries, don't be afraid to use the "block" button—it's the modern version of telling someone to stay away.