Rap artist Lizzo has become an icon of the growing body positivity movement, which seeks to “normalize” and celebrate people of every size. The 33-year-old Detroit native loves showing off her figure on social media and unlike other celebs, she claims to be happy with being obese. Her Instagram name, “lizzobeeating,” further celebrates this concept.
In a January 2 post, Lizzo fought back against diet culture as most people were making New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. She shared a video of herself dancing to the sexually graphic City Girls song “Rodeo” while wearing a skintight brown bodysuit.
The post caption said, “I gained weight💅🏾 I look TF GOODT😍”
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Most of the “Truth Hurts” composer’s 11.9 million followers cheered on the video in the comment section, sharing fire emojis and complimenting Lizzo’s makeup, outfit, and overall vibe. But a few questioned the performer on whether it was healthy to be celebrating weight gain like she was.
“How do we gently say this? You don’t look good, and I think you know you don’t look good,” one commenter wrote. “Most certainly all of your fans do not think you look good. If you were just an everyday person and look the way you do, very few of your fans who are telling you that you are gorgeous would tell you that. They tell you what you want to hear, because you’re famous.”
The fan continued, “You have such a tremendous influence over people, use it for something good! Show your followers a healthy lifestyle! Show them that you really care about yourself by taking care of your body. You are worth it. You are valuable. But you are doing untold damage to yourself and to others.”
That comment had hundreds of likes but many of Lizzo’s other fans clapped back, saying the person was wrong for expressing that opinion.
In the past, Lizzo has spoken out against anyone who disparaged her health. The performer said she works out all the time and that her weight is strictly her business.
“Hey, so I’ve been working out consistently for the last five years and it may come as a surprise to some of ya’ll that I’m not working out to have your ideal body type,” Lizzo said, as reported by Fox News. “I’m working out to have my ideal body type and you know what type it is? None of your f***ing business because I am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job, and I stay on my job.”
She went on to chastise anyone who would judge her physique.
“So next time you want to come to somebody and judge them whether they drink kale smoothies or eat McDonald’s, or work out or not work out, how about you look at your own f***ing self and worry about your own g** damn body because health is not just determined on what you look like on the outside,” she continued. “Health is also what happens on the inside and a lot of ya’ll need to do a f***ing cleanse for your insides. Namaste, have a great day.”