Grammy Award-winning singer and fashion entrepreneur Lizzo declared “I'm quitting” on Instagram Friday after citing the online criticism she's faced.
“I am tired of putting up with being dragged around by everyone in my life and on the internet,” she wrote. “All I want to do is make music, make people happy, and help leave the world a little better than I found it. “But I started to feel like the world didn’t want me.”
The post continued by mentioning that she had faced ridicule and ended with a declaration of her withdrawal.
“I am constantly opposed to lies told about me for influence and opinion,” she added. “Because of my appearance, I am always made fun of… “My character is disparaged and my name is ignored by people who don’t know me.”
Representatives for Lizzo could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday.
Messages of support flooded the comments section of her Instagram post, including from hip-hop pioneer Queen Latifah, cartoonist Eric André, and fashion illustrator and designer Hayden Williams.
Actress Sophia Bush wrote, “The Internet is not real life.” She said, “Protect you. We love you.”
Lizzo, born Melissa Jefferson, rose to fame with a catalog of feel-good funk and pop that included No. 1 hits like 2017's “Truth Hurts” and 2022's “About Damn Time” and lyrics focused on empowerment. Got it.
Her voice was authoritative on recording, she was openly honest, and she spoke candidly about body positivity. According to her brand's website, she is launching Yitty, a line of boobs “designed for all body types,” in 2022.
However, her efforts to promote such ideals were often ridiculed.
Her comments Friday aren't the first time the singer has suggested she might leave the music industry. In 2023, she made her own Twitter account private after she was inundated with derogatory comments about her body on several occasions.
“You all have no idea how close I came to giving up on everyone and quitting,” she posted before locking her account.
Friday's statement contrasts with a March 17 Instagram post in which she wrote, “I'm writing the best music and I'm so excited for you guys to hear it.”
Despite the backlash she received, Lizzo continued to find success.
She won four Grammys and an Emmy for “Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” a reality series that follows a group of aspiring dancers. 2023 saw her music featured in the blockbuster movie Barbie, and this year she promoted her new swimwear line with her own fashion brand.
Her statement on Friday comes amid a lawsuit filed by three of her former backup dancers who have accused the singer of creating a hostile work environment during her 2023 tour, separate from several lawsuits the designer filed against Lizzo last year. Lizzo has repeatedly denied these claims.
In December 2023, she filed a motion to dismiss the designer's lawsuit. Last month, a judge denied her request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the dancers. The judge dismissed some of the claims but allowed the case to proceed to trial.