Lizzo is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated album, "Love in Real Life," while reflecting deeply on the mental health journey that has brought her to this point. The renowned singer recently joined the "On Purpose With Jay Shetty" podcast, where she delved into her decision to take a "gap year" from music releases.
"I haven't truly expressed myself the way I've wanted to in the past two years. It feels like I've been holding back, keeping quiet when I should have spoken up. But I believe it was for the best, considering how people tend to twist words these days," Lizzo confessed.
She elaborated on her break, clarifying that it was taken to safeguard her inner peace, a choice that was unfortunately misunderstood by many. "Sometimes, silence is necessary to avoid unnecessary complications. When I announced my gap year, I meant to shield my peace. But people wondered, 'What does that even mean?'"
Having already unveiled two singles, "Still Bad" and the title track, from her upcoming album, this marks Lizzo's first official release since "Special" in 2022, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and featured the two-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, "About Damn Time."
This album also signifies a new chapter for Lizzo, following a harassment lawsuit filed against her by three ex-dancers in August 2023. The lawsuit levies various accusations against Lizzo and her Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., which she has vehemently denied, labeling them as "false allegations" and "sensationalized tales."
Opening up about the impact of public perception, Lizzo shared, "When someone else tells a story about me that isn't true, and people believe it, it crushes me. It made me realize that fame can turn your reality into a fictional story, a character, a brand – something that no longer belongs solely to you."
Emphasizing the importance of staying authentic, she continued, "The Lizzo the world sees isn't really me. That disconnection is depressing. The only way to combat it is by consistently being myself. That's the path I must follow. I have to keep being true to myself, and eventually, people will see me for who I truly am."
Lizzo concluded with a sense of determination, "I won't stop. If anything, I'm more cautious now. I can't allow just anyone to write my story and portray me as a villain. I refuse to do that anymore. I'm the author of my own narrative, and I'm reclaiming it by continuing to tell my story from my perspective. Thank you for giving me this platform to do so."
