Lizzo, the celebrated singer, has expressed her thoughts on how her music, although immensely popular among white audiences, is intended for a Black audience. She feels concerned about this widespread popularity, saying this predicament is what unsettles her the most.
Reflecting on the criticisms she’s faced, Lizzo commented, “This is perhaps the most significant criticism I’ve encountered, and it sparks an important discussion about Black artists. When Black audiences see predominantly white people attending their concerts, the assumption is often, ‘This isn’t for me, it’s for them.’ Achieving a certain level of fame typically results in a largely white audience.”
Both an astute artist and a savvy businesswoman, Lizzo emphasized, “I’m not crafting music for white people. I am a Black woman creating music stemming from my Black experiences.”
Born as Melissa Jefferson, Lizzo describes her music as a personal balm, saying she creates for her own healing from life’s many experiences.
With deep roots in Detroit, Lizzo acknowledges her impactful role within the young Black community. She’s passionate about promoting love and particularly self-love, stating, “Self-love and anthems of self-appreciation are essential, especially for us.”
She continued, “So am I making music for that girl who resembles me, who grew up feeling underappreciated, mocked, and told she wasn’t beautiful? Absolutely.”
Lizzo also addressed the voices who misinterpret her intentions as racially biased.
“It’s astonishing when people accuse me of not creating from a Black viewpoint—how can I possibly detach from my identity as a Black artist?”
In contrast, Kanye West recently passed comments about Lizzo’s physique during a conversation with Tucker Carlson on Fox News. West remarked, “When Lizzo sheds 10 pounds and shares it, she faces backlash on platforms like Instagram. This pushback originates from forces wanting us to believe that being overweight is desirable despite its health implications.”
He added, “Putting aside whether it’s a trend or if some find it appealing, the fact remains that it’s clinically unhealthy, and promoting this mindset is misguided.”
Carlson then queried West’s rationale for framing this as an issue targeting the Black community, to which West responded:
“‘It’s an orchestrated attempt to erase the Black race. They’re finding any means to harm us.”
Dismissing the claims made by West and Carlson, Lizzo, during her concert at Scotiabank Arena, quipped: “It seems like everyone in America is mentioning my name without any justified reason.”
