Lizzo responds to criticism of new single: “The way this world treats Black women is sickening”
Lizzo has responded to negative reactions to her latest song, ‘Still Bad’, claiming that positive music by Black women “triggers” people.
The ‘About Damn Time’ hitmaker has drawn controversy since 2023 when former members of her team accused her of harassment, bullying and toxicity in their working environment. The singer denied the accusations, saying she was entirely “blindsided” by the claims.
The pop star withdrew from the spotlight until recently with a series of small performances where she admitted she was in a “dark, deep depression” that made her “deeply afraid of people”.
She also recently released ‘Still Bad’, her comeback single infused with a newfound sense of enthusiasm in the face of adversity. “I’m still surviving, and I’m still bad, baby,” she sings to an upbeat rhythm, signalling a sense of defiance.
However, responding to criticism of the single, Lizzo expressed her views on X, saying that people “hearing a Black woman make real music with radical joy triggers miserable people.”
She wrote: “I follow in the footsteps of Janet, of Funkadelic, of Earth Wind and Fire… nobody’s doing it like me for Us. And I stand on that,” adding, “Imagine listening to ‘say it loud I’m black and I’m proud’ and saying it’s too optimistic … imagine listening to ‘hey yah’ and saying it’s too poppy.”
The singer also compared the backlash to legends like Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, and Whitney Houston, saying, “The way this world treats black women is sickening.” She concluded by urging people to “free yourself from the opinions of people that do not matter” and admitted that the allegations against her were intended to “destroy” her but only served to “set me free”.
The singer recently wrapped up a “mini tour” with shows in Los Angeles, New York, and Minneapolis. These intimate shows were to promote her forthcoming album, Love in Real Life, scheduled for release later this year. After releasing the title track, she also reflected on her previous album, Special, saying that she intended to “remind people of how they may be broken but still perfect in their own way.”
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