From racism to body shaming, leave Lizzo alone!
Written by Kalijah Rahming
Lizzo, a three-time Grammy Award winning songstress, is no stranger to being in the spotlight. After all, her 2017 single, “Truth Hurts,” rose to fame two years after its release, quickly becoming the newest summer hit. However, this talented musician is respected for much more than the hits she creates in the Atlantic Records studio. In addition to being an incredible flutist (think of the infamous duet with Megan Thee Stallion), she is also known for promoting body normativity to all of her fans.
In a 2020 interview with Vogue Magazine, Lizzo explained that part of her mission as a positive figure in the celebrity world was to help people become comfortable seeing bodies like hers. By wearing whatever clothes she wants, Lizzo actively works to show us all that all bodies are beautiful, no matter their shape or size.
Despite this beautiful message, there are still many in the world who desire to bring her down. On Aug. 13, Lizzo released her first single in almost two years. The song, “Rumors,” features the popular New York rapper Cardi B. Currently, their music video is the #1 Trending video for music with over 18 million views. Although many fans have chosen to share their support, there are many who set social media comments ablaze with their hateful words.
On an Aug. 15 Instagram livestream, Lizzo teared up while discussing some of the comments she had received. Some of her haters have even gone so far as to claim that she is perpetuating the “Mammy Caricature,” a harmful stereotype that has been around since slavery. Thankfully, Lizzo has found support within the music industry. On Twitter, Cardi B publicly praised their newest single and clapped back at anyone being racist toward her collaborator.
