Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in October 2022.

Lizzo, the Grammy-winning artist, is candidly addressing the nuances of her crossover success and the predominantly white fanbase that often comes with it.

Lizzo dancing while smiling, Photo Credit: lizzobeeating/Instagram

In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair for its November cover story, the 34-year-old music sensation, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, shared insights into her artistic journey and the purpose behind her music. Lizzo boldly stated that despite reaching high levels of popularity, she doesn’t create music with a specific racial audience in mind. Instead, her music is an authentic expression of her Black experience—a form of personal healing from life’s challenges.

While Lizzo’s musical roots are grounded in R&B, hip-hop, and gospel, she has undeniably made an impact in the pop genre with hits like “Juice,” “Good As Hell,” and the recent “About Damn Time.” Despite garnering a diverse fanbase, including many white fans following her breakthrough in 2019 with “Cuz I Luv You,” Lizzo emphasized that her primary audience is Black women.

Lizzo holding an award while posing with a group of other women on stage, Photo Credit: lizzobeeating/Instagram

Lizzo passionately expressed, “We need self-love and self-love anthems more than anybody.” Her music aims to resonate with Black women who, like her, have faced underappreciation, bullying, and societal pressures. She finds it perplexing when critics question her commitment to creating music from a Black perspective, considering it an inherent aspect of her identity as a Black artist.