Lizzo has always been a champion of self-love, confidence, and body positivity.
The 37-year-old has always written lyrics to empower and inspire, but she recently started a Substack where she opens up about a particularly challenging chapter of her life.
In August 2023, following a very public scandal, Lizzo found herself isolated, depressed, and struggling to trust those around her.
Content Warning: This article discusses mental health, suicide, disordered eating, and emotional distress.
1. Lizzo was in a very dark place
Lizzo revealed she went through an intense period of depression, isolation and suicidal thoughts.
“I became deeply suicidal. I cut off all my loved ones. I couldn’t trust anyone,” she wrote. It was a period of extreme emotional burnout—and it affected everything, including how she related to her body.
2. Her weight loss wasn’t about being thin
She explained she wasn’t trying to get smaller — instead, she was releasing emotional and physical weight through practices like Pilates and lymphatic drainage as a form of healing and physical therapy.
“It was never about being ‘thin’ for me. I don’t even think it’s possible for me to be considered actually ‘thin’,” she wrote.
3. Lizzo struggled with self-neglect
Despite being known for radiating self-love, Lizzo admitted she didn’t care for her body during her lowest point, including a shift in her relationship with eating and coping mechanisms.
“The old me would tend to binge when sad and depressed. I would order hundreds of dollars of food delivery and eat everything until my stomach felt like it would explode.”
4. Body positivity has been misunderstood and commercialised
Lizzo called out the way the movement has drifted away from its original purpose, sidelining the plus-size, disabled, queer and BIPOC communities it was meant to uplift.
“Plus-sized models are no longer getting booked for modeling gigs. And all of our big girls are not-so big anymore.”
“We have a lot of work to do, to undo the effects of the Ozempic boom. I have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of the movement that gave me wings.”
5. Lizzo wants the conversation to be more nuanced
Lizzo acknowledged past missteps and took full accountability for her past, as well as encouraging more honest discussions around bodies, healing and how the movement can grow beyond surface-level messaging.
“What do we do? We continue to have conversations. We continue to hold each other accountable. We release ourselves from the illusion that there is only good and bad. We reintroduce nuance into our discussions. I want us to allow the body positive movement to expand and grow far away from the commercial slop it’s become,” she wrote.
“Because movements move..” she finished.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, body image, or an eating disorder, please reach out for support. Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673, or speak with a trusted healthcare professional.
