Lizzo fires back after critic says her popularity is due to 'obesity epidemic in America,' compares her to a slave
Lizzo is still riding high after her Saturday Night Live debut and she isn't going to let anyone bring her down. The "Good as Hell" singer clapped back at Dr. Boyce Watkins after his tweet about her popularity sparked an online debate. Watkins, an author, political analyst and social commentator, tweeted that the eight-time Grammy-nominated singer is only popular because of America's "obesity epidemic."
"Rather than encouraging people to do better, we are simply lying to them and telling them that they are just fine the way they are," he wrote Friday.
#Lizzo popular is because there is an obesity epidemic in America. Rather than encouraging people to do better, we are simply lying to them and telling them that they are just fine the way they are.
Unfortunately, Many of these people are dying from diabetes and heart disease pic.twitter.com/75TY8jJRIX— Dr Boyce Watkins (@drboycewatkins1) December 20, 2019
Watkins followed that up Sunday with a critique of her SNL performance. He wrote how watching Lizzo sing "about the joys of being fat and raunchy makes me think of slaves performing for massa and his friends on the plantation."
Watching #Lizzo dressed in all Gucci on SNL singing about the joys of being fat and raunchy makes me think of slaves performing for massa and his friends on the plantation. “We are here to serve you in every way imaginable. Just keep bringing dem biscuits.”
— Dr Boyce Watkins (@drboycewatkins1) December 22, 2019
By Monday, the 31-year-old "Truth Hurts" singer had enough.
"I’m popular because I write good songs and I’m talented and perform high energy hour and a half shows filled with love," she replied, quipping, "Here’s the attention you ordered."
I’m popular because I write good songs and I’m talented and perform high energy hour and a half shows filled with love.
The only person who needs to do better is you.
Keep my name out ya mouth & look in the mirror before you come for me.
Here’s the attention you ordered 😏 https://t.co/zXnOv4f9Dr— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 23, 2019
Many people came to Lizzo's defense after Watkins's initial tweet, pointing out how there is no debate like this over male stars and their weight.
Fascinating how I never see tweets like these about DJ Khaled. https://t.co/BWeeXGvCSy
— Baby Gay (@vincentdesmond_) December 23, 2019
Lizzo performs. She sings, dances and has energy on a stage.
DJ Khaled just walks around and throws his hands up.
Black women have to be thin and perfect to get the same respect a fat black man gets for doing the bare minimum. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/Gx9QCnes58— AbnormalNerd (@KatCantAnymore) December 23, 2019
"There was Notorious BIG, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Dj Khaled... We never heard any one of you musty a** morons blame their popularity on an 'obesity epidemic' until a woman came up," one person replied.
After clapping back, Lizzo retweeted a message from Bernice King about trying to "to let provocateurs leave empty handed."
If I responded angrily to every person who seeks to provoke anger from me on social media, I’d never experience peace, purpose or progress.
Be a good steward of your energy.
It’s okay to let provocateurs leave empty handed.— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 23, 2019
She also celebrated her song "Good as Hell" rising to No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes chart.
Still we rise 🙏🏾 https://t.co/5K9eUxRaCW
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 23, 2019
Seems like Lizzo is getting the last laugh.
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