Lizzo Responds to Online Fat Joke: A Message About Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance
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Lizzo is speaking out against online trolls, taking a firm stance against body-shaming criticism aimed at her.
On Thursday, December 4, the Grammy-winning artist, known for her hit “About Damn Time,” addressed her critics on Instagram, responding to a viral fat joke about her. “Today I saw a fat joke about me — in 2025 — and it was viral,” she stated alongside a picture of herself in a striking yellow-and-black snakeskin bikini. “It was a dumb joke, and they were just laughing at me because I’m fat… Let me be a reminder to everyone to NEVER let anyone shame you for what you choose to do with your body. Because when you’re big, they talk s–t; when you’re small, they talk s–t. Your body will never be good enough for them because it’s not FOR them. It’s for you.”
Lizzo, who has achieved a pair of Hot 100 chart-toppers, has long faced body-shaming from skeptics throughout her career. Earlier this year, on Trisha Paytas’ podcast, Lizzo revealed her experiences with the weight-loss drug Ozempic and explained her shift to a healthier diet.
In her post, Lizzo emphasized her autonomy over her body: “If I get a BBL, mind [your] business; if [I] lose 100lbs, mind [your] business,” she remarked. “If I gain every pound back and then some… mind [your] f—ing business. Anyways… my fat a— stays living with a paid-off mortgage in y’all b—es heads.”
Her candid response comes shortly after she garnered attention for a Substack essay published on December 1 titled “Cancel Me (Again): A ‘Cancelled’ Woman’s Take on Why Everyone Should Get Cancelled at Least Once.” In a follow-up on December 3, she acknowledged mixed reactions to the piece. “Not everybody liked my most recent essay, and that’s exactly why I wrote it,” she said. “I deserve to be able to express myself like everyone else. I’m human, I’ve earned the right to be wrong — to be prickly and unlikable sometimes. It’s liberating for a recovering chronic people pleaser like me.”
Despite a challenging year, Lizzo has continued to release new music. In June, she unveiled her mixtape My Face Hurts from Smiling, featuring collaborations with artists like Doja Cat and SZA, alongside a popular remix of PLUTO & YK Niece’s track “Whim Whamiee.” More recently, she contributed to Cardi B’s song “Am I the Drama?” and Monaleo’s “Who Did the Body.”
Read Lizzo’s full response to her critics below.
