Lizzo refuses to be praised and criticized for her race and weight. According to the Daily Mail, the entertainer didn't hold back in an interview on David Letterman’s Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
The 32-year-old Detroit native kept it real about her role as an activist.
“I’m sick of being an activist just because I’m fat and Black,” she told the veteran talk show host. “I want to be an activist because I’m intelligent, because I care about issues, because my music is good, because I want to help the world.”
During the episode, Letterman asked the “Truth Hurts” singer about her thoughts on people's opinions of her.
“You know there’s quite a lot written about your body. The only thing anyone has said to me about my body is ‘you feel all right,’” he asked the singer during the interview. “Is it because we don’t think you have the right body to be doing what you’re doing. Is it just an opinion?”
“It bothered me for a long time that all people could talk about or think about was my size. I didn’t like it when people condemned me for it and it kind of rubbed me the wrong way when I was praised. Like ‘you’re so brave,’” Lizzo explained. “They thought they were complimenting me by saying I was unapologetic. I was like, “what do I have to apologize for.'”
The singer made it clear that nobody else's opinion matters but hers. But there has been plenty of sympathetic supporters and naysayers. Fitness expert Jillian Michaels gave her unsolicited opinion when Lizzo decided to leave Twitter after becoming tired of trolls, as Blavity previously reported.
Yeah I can’t do this Twitter shit no more.. too many trolls… ✌????
I’ll be back when I feel like it.
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) January 6, 2020
Michaels swooped in with her two cents after Buzzfeed's Alex Berg sang Lizzo's praise during a segment. The fitness guru interjected with a shady statement.
“Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? ‘Cause it isn’t gonna be awesome if she gets diabetes,” she said.
.@JillianMichaels on Lizzo: "Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't gonna be awesome if she gets diabetes." pic.twitter.com/FkKBd8J87b
— AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM) January 8, 2020
"If my name is in your mouth, so is my p***y, b***h. Enjoy the flavor," Lizzo clapped back in response.
Lizzo’s advocacy extended to an even bigger platform, as Blavity previously reported.
The Grammy-winning artist took time during her acceptance speech at the Billboard Music Awards earlier this month to stress the importance of using her voice as an activist. She acknowledged standing on the shoulders of Black women like her who were unafraid to speak up about issues that affect the community.
“I just want to say; I’ve been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refuse to be suppressed. And I wonder, would I be standing here right now if it weren’t for the big Black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed?” Lizzo said.
The multi-talented musician expounded on how her music is also an act of resistance.
"I just want to say right now if you're at home watching this and you're thinking about changing yourself to feel worthy, this is your sign to remain true to who you are,” she declared, holding her trophy for Top Song Sales Artist.
