Music artist Lizzo (real name: Melissa Viviane Jefferson) is one of the most influential artists who rose to fame with the release of her third studio album in 2019: Cuz I Love You. The artist’s 2017 single Truth Hurts became a sleeper hit two years after its release and topped the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the longest-leading solo by a female rapper.
The artist, due to her weight, has been the subject of constant trolling online, but she decided to use the opportunity and advocate for plus-size women, and she has faced a lot of challenges in doing so. She has expressed over the years how she feels constantly dragged down just because she doesn’t fit in the standards of an ideal woman body type. The last couple of months haven’t been as smooth for the artist as she would have liked, and her recent statement has forced fans to take a look at her journey to understand what made her do that.
Lizzo announces she is tired of ‘being the butt of the joke’
The Emmy and Grammy award-winning artist Lizzo took to her social media and shared a statement that has not only left the fans speechless but has also forced the public to rethink the way they treat the artist. She wrote,
“I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the Internet. All I want is to make music, make people happy, and help the world be a little better than it was when I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.”
She added that she’s constantly up against lies being told about her for clout and views, adding that she is being the butt of the joke every single time because of the way she looks. Lizzo noted that the people who do not know her and disrespect her name, adding that she didn’t sign up for this, are picking her character apart. She ended the post by writing, ‘I Quit’.
The musical artist’s statement about quitting the music industry comes after she faced online criticism for performing at the star-studded fundraiser for President Joe Biden featuring Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Attorneys for her former dancers, who have accused the singer of alleged sexual harassment and other workplace grievances, said (via News Nation)
“It’s shameful that Lizzo would be chosen to headline an event like this amid such egregious allegations. Without getting into politics, I can’t imagine why anyone would want Lizzo representing them in any way, given her reprehensible behavior. It’s just a terrible look.”
The event was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York and had appearances from Mindy Kaling, Lea Michele, Cynthia Erivo, and more. The Associated Press reported that the event helped raise $26 million.
Lizzo accused of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in s*xual harassment
The criticism that followed Lizzo after she performed at the fundraiser is not the only time the artist has been dragged online and criticized. In August 2023, three former dancers allegedly accused the singer of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in s*xual harassment. These accusations, although denied by the artist, did raise questions at the time.
The lawsuit filed by the former dancers (via Vox) alleged that Lizzo pressured the dancers into unwanted s*xual situations and made statements about a dancer’s weight gain that were perceived as thinly veiled comments. The former dancers mentioned that the artist put them through grueling rehearsals that led to one of them soiling themselves. By August 9th, 2023, six more former employees filed for similar complaints.
The former dancers claimed that they were made to feel that their employment was precarious and that they had to comply with the requests made by the artist, dance team captain; Shirlene Quigley, and the company to continue working. The lawsuit alleged that Quigley had spoken extensively about her religious views as a Christian and berated those who did not share the same beliefs as her. They noted that a dancer’s virginity was a constant topic of discussion without her consent, and dancers were pressured to take part in in-group Christian prayers regardless of their religious beliefs.
Filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison shared back in 2023 that she walked away from directing Lizzo’s documentary after she was disrespected. She said via Deadline,
“I witnessed how arrogant, self-centered, unkind, and cruel she is. I was not protected and thrown into a sh**ty situation with little support. My spirit said to run as fast as you can, and I am grateful I trusted my gut. I felt gaslit and deeply hurt, but I’ve healed.”
She added that, regarding the reports she has read, she now realizes what a dangerous situation it was, noting that this kind of abuse of power happens far too often. Lizzo, at the time, denied the allegations and called them too outrageous not to be addressed.
Earlier this year, in February, a Los Angeles judge; Judge Mark. M Epstein rejected a request by Lizzo to end the lawsuit filed by the former dancers; however, some of the charges were dismissed. According to Billboard, allegations including s*xual harassment and racial and religious discrimination against Lizzo and Quigley were upheld by the judge.
The artist back in 2019 had sparked controversy at a Los Angeles Lakers game when she twerked to her song Juice on camera while wearing a dress that revealed her thong.