Lizzo expressed her concern over the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows making a comeback.
The 34-year-old singer, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, worries that the company is simply using “inclusivity” as a way to make money.
“This is a win for inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake,” Lizzo tweeted along with a video clip of a Victoria’s Secret ad campaign from Valentine’s Day featuring models of all shapes and sizes.
“But if brands start doing this only because they’ve received backlash then what happens when the ‘trends’ change again? Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money?” the “Truth Hurts” singer continued.
This is a win for inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake
But if brands start doing this only because they’ve received backlash then what happens when the ‘trends’ change again?
Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money? https://t.co/ykmcUTLayQ
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) March 5, 2023
Lizzo was responding to Victoria’s Secret announcing its decision to bring back a “new version” of their popular runway fashion shows, which began in 1995 but was put on hiatus in 2019.
“We’re going to continue to lean into the marketing spend to invest in the business, both at top-of-funnel and also to support the new version of our fashion show, which is to come later this year,” Chief Financial Officer Timothy Johnson revealed during the company’s 2022 earnings call on Friday.
While details on the newest iteration of the runway show are not public yet, it’s clear that the brand has been embracing a variety of different models in recent years after facing criticism for not doing so in the past.
“Fashion is a business of change. We must evolve and change to grow,” CEO Leslie Wexner said in 2019 while announcing the end of the fashion show. “With that in mind, we have decided to rethink the traditional Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”
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Since then, Victoria’s Secret has featured various models in its campaigns, including LGBTQ activist and professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe and a Brazilian transgender model named Valentina Sampaio. Most of their new campaigns include multiple plus-sized models as well.
Lizzo, meanwhile, has been at the forefront of the body positivity and body acceptance movement. As a plus-sized performer, the Detroit-born singer said she considers a person’s weight a personal matter.
“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,” the singer asserted in 2020.
“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,” Lizzo said at the time.