Lizzo's Rollercoaster Journey: From Grammy Triumphs to a Brave Battle against Sexual Harassment

Lizzo at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards Broadimage/Shutterstock

Lizzo has garnered attention in recent years for her impactful music and controversial incidents. Notably, in 2017 and 2019, the singer faced allegations of plagiarism from British singer Mina Lioness and producer Justin Raisen regarding her hit single "Truth Hurts." The controversy revolved around the song's opening line, "I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that bitch," with both Lioness and Raisen claiming credit for its creation.

In August 2023, Lizzo (born Melissa Jefferson) faced criticism when three of her former backup dancers filed a prominent lawsuit against her. The lawsuit, which received significant media attention, accused the Grammy winner of sexual and religious harassment, disability discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, and other allegations, according to court documents obtained by We.

However, Lizzo responded to these claims by denying them and stating that they are "too outrageous not to be addressed." She asserted that she is not the villain portrayed in the lawsuit.

Scroll below for a look back at Lizzo’s ups and downs over the years:

Debut Album (May 2014)

Five years before her breakout record Cuz I Love You, Lizzo released her debut album, Lizzobangers.

Postmates Scandal (September 2019)

A few months after the release of Cuz I Love You, Lizzo faced backlash for publicly accusing a Postmates delivery person named Tiffany W. of stealing her order. In a tweet, she called out Postmates saying, "Hey @Postmates this girl Tiffany W. stole my food. She's lucky I don't fight anymore," and attached a photo of the woman.

Critics swiftly condemned Lizzo for publicly shaming the Postmates worker and questioned why she didn't address the issue privately. On Twitter, one user expressed, "Lizzo, this is ridiculous. Instead of shaming a possibly hungry woman, you could have resolved this privately. It's just food, you can always reorder it."

Another fan on Twitter expressed their opinion, stating that publicly humiliating someone who works in the service industry, especially if you are financially privileged, is even more deplorable than stealing food. In response to the negative comments, Lizzo received support from other fans who defended her actions by stating, "Tiffany is the one who took it, so it’s not fair to blame Lizzo."

Postmates Support reached out to the singer through Twitter to address their complaint. "Hello! We apologize for the unsatisfactory experience you had with our app," they shared on their tweet. "Could you please send us a direct message with the email address associated with your account? This will allow us to investigate further and assist you accordingly."

Lizzo at the 51st Annual NAACP Image Awards John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Plagiarism Controversy (2017 – 2019)

Lizzo faced allegations of plagiarism for her song "Truth Hurts" in February 2017 when Lioness claimed that Lizzo had taken the song's opening line from her tweet that said, "I did a DNA test and discovered that I am 100% that bitch."

In response, Lioness tweeted Lizzo, expressing her disappointment: "Now people think those words were yours, but they were actually mine. It was my originality, humor, and cleverness."

Lizzo responded to the claims in February 2018, stating that "Truth Hurts" was actually written in June. She explained that someone had made a meme on Instagram with the phrase "I'm 100% that bitch," which inspired her and she credited the meme when discussing the song. Lizzo mentioned that she had never seen the viral tweet but was happy that it existed.

Despite the controversy, Lioness eventually received a writing credit for the track. However, Raisen later alleged that the lyrics were taken from a song they had helped Lizzo write in 2017 called "Healthy." Lizzo took legal action against Raisen and the group, and the issue was ultimately settled privately in March 2022.

3 Grammy Wins (January 2020)

Lizzo achieved a remarkable feat at the Grammys, securing her first three wins in categories for Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. With nominations in eight categories, she emerged victorious in three.

Juice Cleanse Criticism (December 2020)

Lizzo, who is renowned for advocating body positivity, received backlash from certain fans after embarking on a juice cleanse. Despite facing criticism, Lizzo disclosed in an Instagram video that she initially intended to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as stress eating and self-harming behaviors. However, after nine days into the cleanse, Lizzo expressed feeling "amazing."

Lizzo addressed the concerns of disappointed fans who accused her of promoting "disordered eating" by providing an explanation for her decision to do the cleanse on her Instagram Story.

Chris Brown Comments (October 2021)

She then expressed, "I aimed to reverse the situation and regain my previous state. I am immensely proud of myself as well as the outcome I have achieved. My sleep quality has significantly improved, along with my hydration, inner peace, mental stability, physique, complexion, and the clarity in my eyes. I now feel and appear confident and strong, and I guess that's the essence of it. I, as a confident woman, successfully completed a smoothie detox, and I wanted to share that experience with all of you."

Lizzo sparked controversy when she was captured on camera calling Chris Brown her "favorite person in the whole f—king world" and requesting a photo with the musician at an event. This led to backlash online, primarily because of Brown's well-known history of abusive behavior, such as his physical assault on his former girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. At the time, Lizzo chose not to publicly address her comment.

Lizzo at the 40th Brit Awards Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Lyric Change (June 2022)

Lizzo expressed her remorse for using the ableist term "spaz" in the lyrics of her song "GRRRLS" from her album Special. Following backlash from disability activists, she took to Instagram to apologize, stating, "I never want to promote derogatory language." Being a fat black woman in America, Lizzo acknowledged the impact of hurtful words and recognized the power they hold, whether intentional or not.

Furthermore, she announced her decision to release a new version of the song that does not include the controversial lyric. Continuing her statement, Lizzo emphasized her dedication to being an influential artist who actively contributes to the change she longs to see in the world.

Body Shaming Clapback (August 2022)

During the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Lizzo fiercely responded to comedian Aries Spears who had referred to her as resembling the "s—t emoji" in an interview. Expressing her gratitude to her supporters, she also addressed those who had criticized her in the media during her acceptance speech for the Video for Good award. Declining to engage, she confidently declared, "You know what, I will remain silent. They may wonder, 'Lizzo, why don't you retaliate?' Because, my dear, I am triumphant! The empowered woman conquers all!"

First Emmy Win (September 2022)

Lizzo is now one step closer to achieving EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) following the victory of her reality competition show Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls in the Best Competition Program category at the 2022 Emmy Awards.

People’s Champion Honoree (December 2022)

"I always dreamt of seeing someone like me, who was fat, Black, and beautiful, represented in the media," she expressed as she received the award on stage. "If I could travel back in time and advise the younger version of myself, I would simply say, 'You will witness that person, but guess what? You're the one who's going to embody all those qualities.'"

Lizzo was recognized at the 2022 People's Choice Awards with the prestigious People's Champion Award, acknowledging her remarkable role in shattering boundaries within the music industry. During her acceptance speech, she used the platform to draw attention to several remarkable activists who truly deserve to be in the spotlight.

‘The Mandalorian’ Cameo (April 2023)

The Michigan native realized her childhood aspiration of being a part of the Star Wars universe by featuring in an episode of The Mandalorian season 3 alongside Jack Black. Sharing a slideshow of pictures from the set on Instagram, she captioned it by saying, "As a young girl, my dad introduced me to Star Wars as a significant milestone. The trilogy quickly became my favorite movies just like my dad's." Among the pictures was a selfie with Baby Yoda (also known as Grogu), one of her cherished characters.

In her caption, she further expressed, "When Jon Favreau called me and offered me the role of The Dutchess, I spent the entire day crying, longing for my dad to still be with us because he would have been immensely proud. Star Wars was a dream that I believed would never come true— but thanks to Jon, Bryce [Dallas Howard], and everyone in the galaxy, I am now a part of the ever-growing saga of the stars. I am truly privileged and forever grateful. This is The Way.... and May the Force be with you."

Lizzo at Global Citizen Live Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Sexual Harassment Lawsuit (July 2023)

Lizzo, along with her tour company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT), and dance captain Shirlene Quigley, are facing a lawsuit filed by their former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. The legal action alleges that these dancers encountered inappropriate behavior from both Lizzo and her staff while working as backup dancers.

During their appearance on Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Davis and Williams raised allegations against Quigley, claiming that she engaged in inappropriate conduct such as simulating oral sex on a banana in front of the dance cast and making multiple remarks about Davis' virginity. Additionally, they felt compelled to participate in a nude photo shoot out of fear that refusal would result in their elimination.

The group further asserted that while on tour with Lizzo, the dancers were brought to a club in Amsterdam's Red Light District. It was at this venue where Lizzo encouraged cast members to touch the nude performers, catch dildos launched from the performers' vaginas, and consume bananas protruding from their vaginas. The court documents also state that Lizzo directed her attention towards Ms. Davis, pressuring her to touch the breasts of one of the nude performers at the club.

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Additional allegations in the lawsuit include dancers being prohibited from taking on other jobs while on break from the tour, despite not receiving payment during that time. David was reportedly terminated from her position after filming a dance team meeting, while Rodriguez lost her job after confronting Lizzo about the circumstances surrounding David and William's firings.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Lizzo addressed her former dancers' claims, dismissing them as "false" in a lengthy statement. She stated, "These exaggerated stories are being shared by former employees who have already admitted publicly that their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional. As an artist, I have always been deeply committed to my craft. I take my music and performances seriously because ultimately, I strive to create the best art that represents myself and my fans."

Lizzo acknowledged that she has made difficult decisions with her team, emphasizing that she has never deliberately overlooked anyone's value as a crucial team member. She concluded her statement by expressing her hurt, but remained determined not to allow this controversy to diminish the positive impact she has made in the world. Additionally, she expressed gratitude towards those who have supported and uplifted her during this challenging period.