Lizzo has revealed that she was "deeply offended" by the way women's bodies were a topic of discussion and objectified in the media during the late 1990s and 2000s. The 37-year-old artist made this statement on shifting beauty standards and changing mindsets during a heart-to-heart conversation with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton's former mistress, on the Reclaiming podcast.
Monica has a history of being publicly mocked and caricatured, so when the podcast host discussed one of her caricatures that made her sob "for hours," it struck a chord with the singer. Lizzo then discussed how women are critically scrutinized by the public and media, recalling how Jessica Simpson became a victim of cruel headlines and media criticism in 2009 because of her high-waisted "mom jeans." This "ruined the stage" for the singer.
The About Damn Time singer added that she now wears similar styles herself, describing them as "the only jeans that I wear." She further explained that "the way that we talk about bodies in the media and the standard of what a thin body or a larger body is has changed so dramatically."
Lizzo continued, "Sometimes I'm actually, like, deeply offended by how the media talked about your bodies or talked about Jessica Simpson's mom jeans." She emphasized that this new generation may not understand how intense and strict society was, and is, on women's bodies - especially those that, by today's standards, would be considered thin or smaller and not put in the same category.
Lizzo went on to share that when she first came out, people were surprised by her size. "I had to be undeniable - undeniably talented, undeniably beautiful, undeniably likeable, undeniably myself," she said. This was all it took for them to want to deny her. They would deny her based solely on her body.
She explained the enormous amount of pressure she faced. "I think when my body changed... there were some people who were like, 'Am I not allowed to be empowered anymore? Did you not love yourself, actually?'" Lizzo continued. "The truth is, I really love myself because I can do this."
The artist clarified that her love for herself came from changing certain habits in her life so that she could enjoy being in her body physically. "Your body is going to change and you should embrace that change," she said. "Every single day, you change... you have to keep up with that. And that's what body positivity is."
In conclusion, Lizzo's words underscore the importance of embracing body positivity and the changes that come with it. Her story is a reminder that everyone's journey is unique and deserving of love and acceptance.
