While Lizzo fans (affectionately called #Lizzbians) have been eating up her latest two music drops, the long-awaited ‘Love in Real Life‘ and ‘Still Bad,’ the Pop-laden tunes have awakened a criticism in some that’s plagued the GRAMMY winner since the early days of her career: sounding “too White.”
And though hot on the promo trail in support of the new songs (which are set to line her forthcoming studio album also titled ‘Love in Real Life’), Liz (born Melissa Jefferson) took time to address they naysayers who say her sound doesn’t appeal to Black audiences.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday (March 17), Jefferson launched into a rant about the mixed reception of her latest singles seemingly incited by a social media critic who claims the singer’s “brand of Poptimism doesn’t work” in this era.
“Saying my brand of “poptimism” doesn’t work in a “post Covid world” is a lazy take…As if I didn’t release ‘about damn time’ post-pandemic,” she said in response.
Following with a slew of defensive tweets, Lizzo reflected on other artists who have experienced backlash in their careers for not bending to the status quo.
“Same people saying my music is ‘too optimistic’ would’ve been real mad in the 60s at James Brown and Motown,” she said before later relaying, “I think seeing and hearing a black woman make real music with radical joy triggers miserable people… but I follow in the footsteps of Janet [Jackson], of Funkadelic, of Earth Wind and Fire… nobody’s doing it like me for Us. And I stand on that.”
And though her string of messages got a generally supportive response, she seems to have taken a left turn when she compared her plight to that of late music royals Whitney Houston and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
“Aretha & Whitney got backlash for being “too Pop” and kept going…and so will I,” Lizzo stated.
The statement seemingly triggered fans of both divas, Houston’s particularly, as the ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer was also plagued with jeers at a point in her career for making what many deemed “White music.”
Look below to see how commenters responded to Lizzo’s self-comparison.
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Idc what anybody says, I think Lizzo is one of the most inauthentic artists out there. Idk what it is, but I sense something every time I see her.
Stop comparing with Whitney, unless she wanna die in a bathtub. Oops! I don’t think she will fit in tho💅🏽😂
Sounds like there’s a universal stupidity issue. A bunch of folks don’t know the correct definition of COMPARE. She def didn’t compare herself to anyone ppl are just slow, sadly.
The sound she should be going for is Truth Hurts. Her new stuff is too white. That’s just what it is. Hit the lab, girl. Call Dre, or Metro Boomin, or somebody.
This watermelon is delusional
People are ridiculous. Music is not a colour. You can listen to whatever you like. People can make whatever music they want. If you don’t like the music, that’s fine. But Lizzo needs to calm it with the comparisons. She’s really not that deep and her music is generic as… I’m not a big fan of her stuff. For me, I see her in the same league as musicians like hmmm Meghan Trainor, Jason Derulo and Meghan Trainor. Lizzo wants to tap into that funk/disco nostalgia, just feels watered down / surface level like following a formula.
Artists who’re confident in themselves and their work do not address critics. That being said, I’m tired of Lizzo’s insecurities always being her marketing strategy. Her music is decent but she’s insufferable.
All her songs sound alike.