Lizzo says she doesn't make music for 'white people'
Lizzo has clapped back about accusations that she makes music for a white audience.
The 34-year-old musician and classically trained flautist sat down with Vanity Fair for a wide-ranging interview about her life, career, music, and how to handle the haters.
Lizzo - whose real name is Melissa Jefferson - told the iconic fashion magazine that, of all the things said about her, the idea that she is creating sounds meant for Caucasian people this is the one that stings the most.
"This is probably the biggest criticism I've received, and it is such a critical conversation when it comes to black artists," the 'About Damn Time' singer said, as per Vanity Fair.
Advert
"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 Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist went on to make it as crystal clear as the 200 year old flute she recently played recently in Washington DC.
"I am not making music for white people. I am a black woman, I am making music from my black experience," she said, as per Vanity Fair.
"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?"
The 'Good as Hell' songstress revealed another reason that she makes music: to heal from the 'experience we call life'.
"If I can help other people, hell yeah. Because we are the most marginalised and neglected people in this country.
She added: "We need self-love and self-love anthems more than anybody."
The Detroit-born musician went on to add that she makes music for the girls who look like her and the ones who 'grew up in a city where she was under-appreciated'.
The very same ones who were 'picked on and made to feel un-beautiful'.
The singer was recently used as an example during a bizarre interview Kanye West had with Fox News.
In a sit-down chat with Tucker Carlson, West commented about how people criticise Lizzo for losing weight because they believe in the body positivity movement.
Lizzo didn't hold back in her response following West's comments, telling concertgoers in Canada: "I feel like everybody in America got my mother******* name in [their] mother******* mouth for no mother******* reason."
This is not the first time the Grammy-winner has had to deal with a man’s unsolicited comments about her body.
Shortly afer comedian Aries Spears claimed she 'looks like the s**t emoji', Lizzo won the Video for Good award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
As she accepted the award, she told crowds: “They be like ‘Lizzo, why don’t you clap back?’ ‘Cause b***h I’m winning.”
Rachel Lang