US pop star Lizzo has said her critics were “always going to try to tear me down” as she is a “fat, black, happy girl”. The singer and rapper, 38, rocketed to fame in 2019 with her Grammy-winning single Truth Hurts and is known for hits such as About Damn Time, Good As Hell and body-positive anthem Juice.
Fame and Scrutiny
Lizzo, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has faced controversy in recent years, having received multiple accusations from former employees of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. She has publicly denied all the allegations.
In an interview with The Guardian she spoke about her “unexpected” international fame and the controversy which has followed and clouded her career in recent years. Lizzo said: “I never signed up to be just a famous person. I was always like, I’m going to make art forever.”
“So when my fame precedes me as an artist it can be uncomfortable, because people care more about what I said than what I made. I will put out music and the critique of it is never really about the music: it’s more about me. And I think that comes with being this level of famous.”
Expectations and Cruelty
When asked if she expected such popularity and the subsequent scrutiny, Lizzo said: “No, I don’t think anybody does. Everything was unexpected. The Grammy’s, unexpected. The number ones, unexpected. The fame, unexpected. The public scrutiny, unexpected.”
“The one thing I did expect was being a fat, black, happy girl, they were going to try to take that away from me. They were always going to try to tear me down. I always knew, from when I was a non‑famous person, that that makes people uncomfortable. So I kind of signed up for that part.”
Lizzo also spoke about “the world right now” and how “we’re seeing cruelty at an all-time high”. She told the newspaper: “We live in a culture where everybody is racing to get the top comment, and the most hurtful comment wins. We’re in a business of hurting each other.”
“I think everybody was so careful about the way we spoke about others and everybody was holding people accountable for the last few years, and now the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Being cruel is trendy and acceptable.”
Legal Challenges
In August 2023, Lizzo and her production company were sued by ex-dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, who made a number of claims, including allegations of sexual, religious and racial harassment. At the time, the singer said the claims were “as unbelievable as they sound” and she would “not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this”.
A month later, similar claims were made against Lizzo by stylist Asha Daniels, who said she was subjected to racial and sexual harassment and a hostile work environment while on tour with Lizzo. Last year, a US judge dismissed the specific allegations against Lizzo as an individual, however her company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc remains a defendant in the ongoing case.
