Lizzo Confronts Album Flop Amidst Growing Public Scrutiny

During an appearance on the Swiftologist podcast, Lizzo admitted to struggling with the album’s reception, noting that she spent several days mourning what she described as some of her best creative work. She attributed the slump to a changing music industry and a shift in her own connection to listeners, rather than just the promotional efforts of Atlantic Records. Her candid admission, however, triggered a backlash on social media where users contrasted her reported 2,600-unit debut with the performance of Bebe Rexha, whose independent project, "Dirty Blonde," moved roughly 19,000 units.

The commercial struggle marks a sharp decline for the four-time Grammy winner, whose 2022 album "Special" debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. charts. Amid the fallout, Lizzo revealed that she turned to fellow artist SZA for support, questioning her own success before receiving reassurance. Outside of her music career, the singer continues to navigate a harassment lawsuit brought by former employees. She has publicly rejected settlement offers, characterizing them as an easy way out, and maintains her readiness to testify in court to clear her name of the remaining sexual harassment allegations.