Lizzo has said she’s “taking a gap year” in a new Instagram post.
The singer recently announced she had landed in Bali – but, according to her post yesterday (August 25), it appears she might be staying for longer than a holiday.
In a video showing the singer taking a moment outside in the pouring rain dressed in a black swimsuit, Lizzo captioned the post: “I’m taking a gap year & protecting my peace”.
Lizzo is no stranger to announcing hiatuses – earlier in March, the singer declared ‘I QUIT’ in response to being “dragged” online.
At the time, she wrote: “I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it. I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout and views… being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look.. my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”
Just days later, the singer clarified she wasn’t quitting music, saying she meant “I quit giving any negative energy attention. What I’m not gonna quit, is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting the people, ’cause I know I’m not alone.”
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Both messages came after Lizzo’s request to dismiss her upcoming sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit was denied by a judge.
In August last year, the musician was accused of creating a hostile work environment and sexual harassment at a strip club in Amsterdam. In response, Lizzo wrote that she was “hurt” and called the allegations “false”. Lawyers have since reviewed more complaints from other backup dancers, whilst Lizzo was named in a new lawsuit from a former hairstylist in September, which she further moved to dismiss.
Now, an LA judge has ruled that the case will go ahead in its entirety towards a trial. Originally, Lizzo’s lawyers filed to dismiss the lawsuit “in its entirety” in September 2023 under California’s anti-SLAPP statute (“strategic lawsuits against public participation”). The statue aims to quickly dismiss lawsuits that threaten free speech. Lizzo’s lawyers argued that her backup dancers were trying to “silence” her.
In response, the judge ruled that the lawsuit did not fit into anti-SLAPP legislation. Whilst he did dismiss certain claims made by the backup dancers – including one that alleged Lizzo had fat-shamed a dancer despite years of body positivity advocacy – he ruled that the rest of the case could go forward.
Elsewhere, Lizzo has responded to ‘South Park’ Ozempic jibe: “I’m really that bitch”.