The 35-year-old artist unleashed a heartfelt outburst on social media, confessing that she had been bombarded with "fabricated tales for fame and clicks" and constantly mocked "solely because of my appearance." Lizzo has reached her breaking point with online trolls.
"I'm weary of enduring the incessant dragging from every corner of my life and the digital abyss," wrote the Emmy and Grammy-winning sensation in a poignant Instagram post shared on Friday afternoon. "My sole intention is to create music that brings joy to people and contribute to making this world a tad more beautiful than I found it. But I'm starting to sense that the world doesn't desire my presence in it."
The 35-year-old artist continued, revealing that she was constantly at the mercy of "fabricated tales spun about me for fame and clicks," being the punchline of jokes "time and again due to my appearance," and having her character dissected by strangers. She concluded her emotional post with the words, "I'm done" alongside a peace symbol. It remains ambiguous whether she intended to quit Instagram or all her social media platforms, given that she only shared the post on Instagram and not on X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok. Or perhaps, was Lizzo signaling a potential farewell to her musical journey?
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to the singer's representatives for clarification. This emotional outburst came shortly after Lizzo faced criticism for her performance at a star-studded fundraiser for President Joe Biden, which featured illustrious guests like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Mindy Kaling, Queen Latifah, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The event reportedly raised a staggering $26 million.
The attorneys representing Lizzo's former dancers, who have accused her of sexual harassment and other workplace grievances, vehemently criticized her participation in the event. "It's disgraceful that Lizzo would headline such an event amidst such egregious allegations," attorney Ron Zambrano told NewsNation. "Ignoring the politics, I cannot fathom why anyone would want Lizzo to represent them in any way, given her deplorable behavior. It's a terrible look indeed."
Last August, some of her tour dancers filed a lawsuit against the artist, alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Billboard reported earlier this month that the case is currently on hold while Lizzo appeals a ruling that allowed the suit to progress. However, Lizzo has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
Immediately after the lawsuit was filed, she defended herself on Instagram. "I'm not here to be viewed as a victim, but I'm also aware that I'm not the villain people and the media have portrayed me to be. Nothing is more important to me than the respect we deserve as women. These sensationalized narratives stem from former employees who have publicly admitted that their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."
A month later, Lizzo took the stage at The Beverly Hilton to receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the Black Music Action Coalition gala. Since then, she has made several other high-profile appearances, including presenting an award at the February Grammy Awards, flying to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, and attending Vanity Fair's star-studded post-Oscars party in Beverly Hills.
