Lizzo Says Fat Women Aren’t Benefiting From the Body-Positivity Movement

Lizzo is speaking out for fat women who are being left behind in what many call the body-positivity movement. In a new video the “Juice” singer points out that a movement started by fat women, particularly women of color, has been muddled by a blanket call for body acceptance that tends to favor midsize and skinny women who receive praise for accepting their so-called imperfections. 

On April 8, Lizzo stitched a video from someone who was rightfully upset over a comment telling them to work out. “I don't understand why I can't just exist in my body,” the person said through tears. Lizzo took it upon herself to respond.

“Now the body positivity has been co-opted by all bodies, and people are finally celebrating medium and small girls and people who occasionally get rolls; fat people are still getting the short end of this movement,” she said straight to the camera. “We're still getting shit on—we're still getting talked about, memed, shamed—and no one cares anymore because it's like, ‘Body positivity is for everybody.’”

Lizzo continued, “Yes, please be positive about your body, please use our movement to empower yourself. That's the point. But the people who created this movement: Big women, big Brown and Black women, queer women are not benefiting from the mainstream success of it. Our bodies are none of your fucking business or health is none of your fucking business. All we ask is that you keep that same energy with these medium girls that you praise, keep the same fucking energy.”

“Please use the body-positive movement to empower yourself,” Lizzo emphasized in the caption. “But we need to protect and uplift the bodies it was created for and by.”

This is not the first—and surely won't be the last—time the “Truth Hurts” singer has laid out these kinds of truths. On March 25, she came for “fake doctors” who take it upon themselves to diagnose strangers in the comments section, particularly fat creators who lead active lifestyles. 

“I just wanted to say I've seen a few of these videos about, like, you know, fat girls who eat healthy and stay active but can't seem to lose weight,” she began the video. “I think these kinds of videos are important, whether they intend to lose weight or don't want to lose weight, just to show that every single body is different and how it functions is different. What really bothers me are the fake doctors in the comments, saying, ‘Oh, you have this or you might have this condition.’ No. What if I'm just fat?”

Ultimately, Lizzo encouraged her followers to remember to enjoy living in their body. “Bodies are not all designed to be slim with a six-pack,” she pointed out. “If you're feeling down on yourself today, just remember that your body is your body. Nobody got your body. So enjoy that bitch.”