| CROSSFADE | t Music Shrug Off the L Shamers Lizzo rises above the internet trolls and keeps scoring hits. BY DINNIAH BARTHOLOMEW izzo is the kind of star who comes once in a lifetime. From the moment she burst onto the music scene, she made it clear to her audience that she could sing, act, dance, and more. As the quint- essential pop star with an unproblematic presence, it would be expected that her ca- reer would be met with mostly praise. How- ever, despite everything she brings to the table, she’s met plenty of criticism that would push most to exit the spotlight. As a young preteen in Houston, Lizzo (born Melissa Viviane Jefferson) began lay- ing down the foundations for her career while being mentored by renowned music teacher Claudia Momen. She took up the moniker “Lizzo” at 14 after forming a music group with her friends known as the “Corn- row Clique.” The name combined the nick- name “Lissa” and Jay-Z’s “Izzo.” Lizzo continued her classical music train- ing until the age of 21 when her father died. Afterward, the singer experienced hard times, living out of her car for a year. Despite this being a devastating experience, the “Truth Hurts” singer looks at this time of her life through a positive lens. In 2011, she moved to Minneapolis to pur- sue her music career. Two years after her move, she released her debut album, Lizzo- bangers. Produced by Lazerback and Ryan Olsen, the album heavily showcased Lizzo’s hip-hop influences in her music. The album was warmly received by critics, earning a four-star rating from the Guardian and mak- ing the Star Tribune’s “Twin Cities Critics Tally 2013” list. The singer-songwriter would continue to release several records. In January 2019, she dropped “Juice,” the lead single of her up- coming album Cuz I Love You. The album was a major success and garnered main- stream attention for Lizzo. The album de- buted at number six on Billboard 200 and peaked at number four three months later. The same year, “Truth Hurts,” initially re- leased in 2017, went viral on TikTok. The song’s massive success gave Lizzo her first number-one hit and was re-released by At- lantic Records in the deluxe edition of Cuz I Love You. Still, Lizzo’s newfound fame also brought on a lot of unwanted attention and criticism. Lizzo, living comfortably and confidently in herself, has become a major topic of discus- sion. In December 2019, the singer was in- vited to a Los Angeles Lakers game, where she was celebrated with her single “Juice” be- ing performed by the Laker Girls. When Lizzo started dancing, she revealed a racy Photo by AB+DM outfit consisting of fishnet tights and a black thong. The controversy seemed to be less about the overall appropriateness of the attire but more that people felt it was inappropriate for her body type. Lizzo’s contemporaries like Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Cardi B all have worn racy outfits in public, but no- body seemed to mind as much. As Lizzo’s fame has continued to grow, other public figures have felt the need to make their opinions about Lizzo’s body known. Celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Mi- chaels, best known for her rough nature on the reality weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, had a lot to say about her weight. “Why are we LIZZO’S CONTEMPORARIES LIKE MEGAN THEE STALLION, DOJA CAT, AND CARDI B ALL HAVE WORN RACY OUTFITS, BUT NOBODY SEEMED TO MIND AS MUCH. celebrating her body? Why does it matter?” Michaels said about Lizzo on BuzzFeed’s morning show, AM to DM. “’Cause it isn’t gonna be awe- some if she gets diabetes.” Lizzo never responded nor prompted this reaction from Michaels, but the topic of Lizzo’s health — a woman who can sing, dance, and play the flute at once — has followed her throughout her career. Even Aries Spears, the comedian and former Mad TV cast member, felt the need to comment about the singer’s weight. “She’s got a very pretty face, but she keeps showing her body off like, come on, man. Fuck diabetes, fuck heart problems, fuck heart disease, cholesterol...” he said during an interview with The Art of Dialogue. Even when Lizzo responds, there seems to be a backlash that comes with it. With the release of “Rumors,” featuring Cardi B, the Lizzo internet compared her to a “mammy” figure, disparaged her weight, and claimed that she was selling out to white audiences. After Lizzo went live to say how hurtful the comments were, Facebook and Instagram removed hateful comments from her page. The move only served to enrage her detractors. “So, Facebook [and] Instagram took down comments about Lizzo, but she is allowed to run around half naked on social media, but no one can comment unless it’s nice?” tweeted conservative journalist LaShaun Turner. “She could have deleted her own comments or ig- nored them. I get TONS of negative com- ments. When you are famous or in the public eye just a bit like myself shit happens! Deal with your mental and move on.” For a while, it was widely agreed that on- line bullying needed to be eradicated. How- ever, because of her job and her weight, Lizzo doesn’t seem to get the same empathy. Despite all the unnecessary commentary, Lizzo is doing better than ever. Her latest al- bum, Special, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, surpassing her breakthrough album, Cuz I Love You. The single “About Damn Time” is the singer’s second number one on the Billboard Hot 100 following the success of “Truth Hurts,” perhaps proving that the hate was all talk, and there are no signs of the singer stopping any time soon. Lizzo herself said it best, “’Lizzo, why don’t you clap back?/Because bitch I’m winning, ho!/ Big bitch is winning, ho!” Lizzo. With Latto and Saucy Santana. 8 p.m. Friday, September 23, at FLA Live Arena, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; 954-835-8000; flalivearena.com. Tickets cost $34.75 to $124.75 via ticketmaster.com. [email protected] 1717 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | miaminewtimes.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | MIAMI NEW TIMES NEW TIMES MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2022
