In response to claims that she only writes music for white audiences, Lizzo has hit back.
The 34-year-old classically trained flutist and musician had a lengthy conversation with Vanity Fair about her life, work, music, and how to deal with the naysayers.
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, told a renowned fashion publication that of all the criticism she has received, the claim that she makes music intended for Caucasian people hurts the most.
“This is probably the biggest criticism I’ve received, and it is such a critical conversation when it comes to black artists, When black people see a lot of white people in the audience, they think, ‘Well, this isn’t for me. This is for them.’ The thing is, when a black artist reaches a certain level of popularity, it’s going to be a predominantly white crowd,” the singer said.
“I am not making music for white people. I am a black woman. I am making music from my black experience,” The intelligent singer and the businesswoman added.
The 200-year-old flute that the Grammy and Emmy Award-winning musician performed recently in Washington, DC, was as crystal clear in her subsequent explanation. The ‘Good as Hell’ songstress revealed another reason that she makes music: to heal from the ‘experience we call life’
“I am not making music for white people. I am a black woman, I am making music from my black experience,” she said, “It blows my mind when people say I’m not making music from a black perspective.
“How could I not do that as a black artist?”
“We need self-love and self-love anthems more than anybody,” she said.
So am I making music for that girl right there who looks like me, who grew up in a city where she was underappreciated and picked on and made to feel unbeautiful?’” she asked before answering, “Yes.” The Detroit singer claimed that she is aware that she is making a significant difference for young Black people. She want more love, including love for oneself.
“When Lizzo loses 10 pounds and announces it, the bots — that’s a term for like telemarketer callers on Instagram — they attack her for losing weight because the media wants to put out a perception that being overweight is the new goal when it’s actually unhealthy.” West remarked, on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, 45-year-old as Kanye West commented on Lizzo’s weight.
“Let’s get aside the fact of whether it’s fashion and vogue, which it’s not. Or if someone thinks she is attractive, to each his own. It’s actually clinically unhealthy, and for people to promote that… it’s demonic.” He said.
West was prepared with a response, in which Carlson pushed to explain why he felt that this is being done to people of the Black race.
West responded by saying, “‘It’s a genocide of the black race. They want to kill us in any way they can.”
During a performance at Scotiabank Arena, Lizzo responded to West and Tucker’s assertions, “I feel like everybody in America got my mother******* name in [their] mother******* mouth for no mother****** reason.”
Watch the video below:
