Sunday night, Lizzo and some of her friends went to the Lakers vs. Timberwolves game in LA. Lizzo lived in Minnesota for years, so I assume she’s a Timberwolves fan. That’s not why she was trending on Twitter for much of Sunday night and all of Monday. She was trending because of what she wore to the game: fishnets, a thong and an oversized t-shirt that worked as a dress. Or, it would have worked as a dress except that someone – ?? – cut a big hole in the back of the t-shirt so Lizzo’s ass was literally hanging out. She was seated courtside, so whenever she stood up, everyone behind her got an eyeful. And then at one point, she got up and twerked so everyone could see.
I did not write about this on Monday because A) I honestly don’t care, B) I’ve been feeling like there’s a growing backlash against Lizzo and people yelled at me for mentioning that feeling, C) I think it’s possible to hold a lot of contradictory opinions all at once. Like, yes, Lizzo has the right to do whatever she wants with her body and if she wants her ass out, so be it. And yes, so much of the commentary and criticism lodged against her was sizeist – it wasn’t that people thought it was gross that any woman’s ass was hanging out, it was specifically about Lizzo and her size. That being said, if a slender lady had worn that, of course it would have been a big deal too. The commentary would have been different though.
Anyway, the whole thing was a stunt to get people talking about her because (I suspect) Lizzo does not realize that she’s perhaps a tad overexposed (in every sense) at the moment. So Lizzo got the reaction she was looking for, so she got to “clap back” at all her haters with a video on her Instagram Live:
The singer, 31, responded to those trolling her outfit in an Instagram Live video Monday, quipping “your criticism has no effect on me.”
“Who I am and the essence of me and the things that I choose to do as a grown-ass woman can inspire you to do the same. You don’t have to be like me. You need to be like you. And never ever let somebody stop you or shame you from being yourself,” she began the clip. She went on to continue that her for her, being bold isn’t something new.
“Like, this is who I’ve always been. Now everyone’s looking at it and your criticism can just remain your criticism…Negative criticism has no stake in my life, no control over my life, over my emotions. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, I’m surrounded by love.” Lizzo clapped back that just because she’s famous, she has no intention of changing her ways. “I don’t ever want to censor myself…I’m not going to quiet myself. I’m not going to shrink myself because somebody thinks that I’m not sexy to them. It doesn’t really matter what goes on on the internet, nothing really breaks my joy. I’m a really solid, grounded person, and I know that I’m shocking because you’ve never seen — in a long time — a body like mine doing whatever it wants to do and dressing the way that it dresses and moving the way that it moves.”
“I just wanna spread that love and also spread these cheeks,” she laughed. “And you know what, if you really don’t like my ass, you can kiss it. ‘Cause kissing it makes it go away, I promise,” she said, blowing a kiss to the camera.
*deep sigh* It is what it is. Everyone involved in this discussion is doing what they want to do. Lizzo’s critics are yelling and body-shaming because that’s what makes them happy. Lizzo’s defenders are using this as a rare moment of body-positivity for bigger girls. And Lizzo was happy being a stunt queen and getting all of these headlines. Make no mistake – she loves the fact that she got to do that IG Live thing. That’s the whole reason for the stunt.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Yeah I support her right to be herself, her body is beautiful and sizeists can stfu. But also… the dress was tacky and I don’t want to see *anyones* a$$ in a thong at a basketball game, full stop. Thin or curvy, professional model or singer or regular person- no one. I didn’t hate the dress because of her body or because she’s a woman- I hated it because it’s tacky and frankly indecent for a public space where everyone else is just trying to watch a game.
this, 100%.
One addition to that great take, runcmc: I don’t want to SIT in that chair after ANYONE’s “thonged ass” has been on it!
I seriously doubt any venue Lysols the seats after every event (hell, planes don’t even do that for tray tables and arm rests. I always take my own wipes for that). But c’mon…are we ALL going to have to be armed with disinfectants to go to a sporting event??? Just cover your ass(es). It’s not that hard. Let ‘er rip at the beach or a club where you’re dancing, not sitting.
I don’t think you have much to worry about. All the potentially germy parts are still covered.
I looked at this dress and immediately thought of Prince. It wasn’t even a good look on him.
Came to say this as well. I don’t care what size you are, I don’t wanna see that shit.
Lady Gaga pulled a stunt at a Yankee’s game years ago.
I have no clue who she is but it sounds a bit like the usual “Look at me, look at me!! Why are you looking at me??” shtick.
Yup. The second I saw that rear-baring dress, I KNEW she would Lena Dunham this.
MTE. It’s tacky no matter who does it.
Totally agree. I’m going to add that it is her right to be provocative, whether it’s showing her ass or any other way, and the people who see the provocative behavior have the right to respond however they want. It’s a two way street.
They have the right to respond to it negatively, but not however they want- whether it’s her, Rihana, Ariana, Adam Lambert, or anyone else. It’s fine to say “I don’t want to see southern cheeks at a family sporting event”. There are ways to respond to each of those people that would not be fine though, and that couldn’t just be justified with “Look at how she/he was dressed” though.
Actually, people can respond however they want. I don’t agree with censoring reactions, speech, expressions, art, etc. I also don’t believe in bullying someone regardless of their position on a subject. The fact is, if you go out with your ass literally hanging out of your clothes you are looking for a reaction. So you can’t be surprised or offended at whatever reaction you get.
@ctgirl: Nope. If a person’s response to how anyone is dressed involves racist, misogynistic, or homophobic abuse, people have the right to call that out, and it’s not “bullying” when it’s done, it’s rejecting abusive behavior. It’s not ok to treat people however we want just because we don’t like their outfits.
Of course it should be called out. All I g something out is a reaction and shouldn’t be censored. No reaction should be censored.
✅. You summed it up perfectly, runcmc.
agree completely. I don’t want to see a person’s azz, of ANY size, at a sporting event. and that includes cheerleaders. Their outfits should not resemble that of an exotic dancer before she strips.
the bigger issue for me was the hygienic aspect of it. just EW, for both her and the next person who sits there. cause you KNOW that arena staff isn’t bleaching seats after every game.
It was vulgar and done for attention. She can stifle her clueless comments. Nobody needs to see that at a sporting event.
She’s wearing a thong to a sports event, and there’s a hole in the butt area for the whole world to see it.
I’m sorry, but I can’t possibly see how this can be done for anything but attention, especially if you’re a celebrity. Call me sexist if you want, I think sincerely believing Lizzo just casually picked that clothing that day and it never even occured to her she’d get backlash for wearing that at a public event is, to say the least, mindblowingly naive. This isn’t a cleavage or a short dress. It’s her whole ass. At a sports event.
I have nothing to add to this, agree with it all.
Agree
My issue is the outfit looks cheap.
Lizzo should have worn a better looking outfit.
Plus I hope her seat was covered because I would hate to have a bare ass on a seat.
Yes, please cover the seat!
As someone who worked at an NBA sports arena, I can ASSURE you that those seats haven’t seen a can of Lysol in decades
Yes the seat! Like ewwwww
She was wearing sheer stockings/panty hoes over her underwear.
From a sanitary perspective, just not great. Those seats haven’t been cleaned in how long and she’s got her bare bum there.
I feel Lizzo is playing up stereotypes for mainstream acceptance. Mainstream America prefers Black women big & “sassy”. It’s frustrating because it keeps Black women in this box.
I don’t begrudge Lizzo getting her coin. I just think she’s getting that coin precisely because she’s leaning into the stereotypes.
I couldn’t agree with you more @Aurora.
This is all to reinforce the sellable black female singer stereotype and unfortunately in the industry if you are a WOC it’s hard to get anyone to care unless you pony up and become just that. It’s a shame but again, she is getting that coin so ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Yeah, Aurora. It takes a lot of courage to really buck the stereotypes and lose money, but Lizzo says that she is being herself. Sigh…
So like someone who looks like her but doesn’t dress and act like her wouldn’t become popular. Like there wouldn’t be a black Adele? Ok that’s a valid theory.
But do you mean that she’s not naturally sassy and just became that way? I’m not a big fan of her songs but she does seem authentic to me so that’s quite interesting to consider
Exactly. It was a vulgar, showy lean into the very thing women of colour are fighting against. Furthermore, for those commenters who are accusing others of being misogynistic body-shamers, NONE of us have mentioned her body size, just that it was an act of sheer in-your-face immaturity.
I kind of agree. I want her to be free to do her, but this was so clearly a publicity stunt meant to do exactly what it did. While I don’t want to see anyone’s ass, regardless of the size, I was okay with that….until she leaned into it and started twerking. It’s not even the twerking that bothers me–if she were on stage, clap them cheeks, Girl! Yas! But it just seems stereotypical and unnecessary for her to twerk at this venue.
What’s weird is that pre-fame (or pre big fame I should say – I don’t know her personally or anything) she was a much shyer more subdued person. People evolve, so maybe getting bigger and bolder is her natural evolution but it’s also possible that that’s just a persona which makes this stunt even more annoying.
She’s SO talented. She doesn’t need this!
She’s so talented and doesn’t need to do this — exactly!!! Have been following her since 2016 and she is so talented, but also needs to recognize when it’s time to chill. She made it! She doesn’t need stunts to grab attention!
I agree 100% with you Kaiser. Like the comment above, I dont want to see any bare booties when I’m at a basketball game, no matter the size but Lizzo should be able to wear what she wants! I mean? Contradicting thoughts are what happens in instances like this.
I don’t know if I would want to sit my bare bottom on those gross seats though…
I have some conflicting opinions on Lizzo too, the thing with the song writing credits and her attack on a critic weren’t good. I’m never sure how I feel about discussions like these about clothes, bodies and such. Personally I’m a prude, but I think it might be good for society as a whole to learn how to deal with naked bodies in all sizes, to stop objectifying our bodies and be more accepting or tolerant towards dress and out bodies. And for that you need provocateurs like Lizzo, maybe like Miley Cyrus and Kim K.
@wilma, I love this comment and resonate hard. Thanks for putting my feelings into words!
💞This, diversity is good for people/society when it comes to female modesty. Also, to me a woman who is very modest when it comes to her own body but tolerant and open-minded like this when it comes to other women’s need to challenge patriarchal standards of respectability in that area isn’t even a prude.
My only issue with what Lizzo did is the germ factor.
Yes! As a teacher I sometimes get asked by male colleagues to say something to a girl about the way she dresses and I won’t do that. I think that’s incredibly damaging. We should stop acting as if the way someone clothes or looks is harmful (with the exception of wearing hate symbols).
I could be wrong, but I imagine that a dude getting his ass out at the game would get a strong negative reaction too.
I think I land here too. I saw the video and cringed in the way that I have nightmares about leaving the house without pants. But the more people protest and invoke the poor innocent children the more I’m like, omg it’s not a big deal.
I live in NYC and this past June on a Sunday afternoon there were a group of men in my apartment lobby cross-dressed in very skimpy outfits on their way to the gay pride parade. My daughter had immediate questions about where were their pants and why is he wearing a skirt and was staring. I answered a couple questions nonchalantly or shrugged and we moved on with our day. I think some people just don’t want to have to explain sexuality or grown up stuff to their kids but it really doesn’t have to be a big thing. “He wanted to wear that, he’s going to a parade which is like a party” or “Look that’s the woman who sings ‘Juice’! I guess she didn’t want to wear pants.” Someone’s clothing choices may be different from yours but you don’t have to take personal offense to it.
Yes, kids are going to take their cues from you. I want my kid to appreciate the diversity of the human experience, so I try to keep my reactions to other people in tune with that.
This bothers me so much. It’s so puritanical the way people are reacting to this. It’s nonsense. It reminds me of how, in Europe, nudity is usually uncensored on TV, and it’s just accepted as a normal thing, while, in America, it’s THE END OF THE WORLD when someone wears something revealing, or body parts are shown. RE: THE KIDS!!! I am positive that a kid has seen an ass, whether it’s Barbie’s naked ass while chasing her clothing or (and I’m really dating myself here) Bart Simpson mooning someone. She may have been wearing a thing, but she was wearing tights over it. Yeah, the hole cut in the back of the shirt was over the top, but if she’s comfortable with it and that’s what she wants to wear, I’m all for it. In the larger scope of things, this is not important and will most likely be forgotten in a couple weeks. Enough with the outfit policing. Let people express themselves in the way they feel comfortable and confident.
A lot of the arguments I read about was the fact that this was at a basketball game with kids a total family sporting event. She wasn’t on stage there is a time and place for everything and what she wore can’t be compared to the cheerleaders.
I mean I’m not trying to be contrary but- I don’t have any kids and I’m an adult woman. I don’t wanna see it. I don’t think we have to “what about the children?!” on this one, we’re all in agreement that it’s inappropriate for anyone to be subjected to a bare a$$ when you’re not at that kind of event.
Agreed, Runcmc.
I love Lizzo, but I don’t need to see your ass. And if Miley did it, I wouldn’t want to see that, either.
Lizzo put a video up on Instagram of Rihanna twerking in the sheer crystal dress that showed her naked body save the crystals and naked it is her inspiration for the Laker’s cutout t-shirt dress. But Rihanna was attending a red carpet fashion event, and the twerking happened in her apartment or hotel with friends recording it. The pictures were all over the media later with strategic parts covered up or not depending on the outlet.
If Lizzo showed had shown up at an event like the one Rihanna attended in a dress that showed her naked body, it would have been in front of fashion and entertainment people, and the pics would be shown, edited, a-
or not depending on the audience of the media outlet, like CB and Kaiser do to make sure that their money isn’t compromised. It’s not a case where someone else is going to be sitting behind her seeing everything at an event where you wouldn’t expect to see a half-nude woman. A ball game is not a place where you would expect to see a half-naked woman. A sexy woman, sure. She could have been really sexy and still challenged fat woman stereotypes without showing her ass in an unhygienic ball game seat.
I get what Lizzo is trying to do, but she is famewhoring and mistaking it for empowerment.
It isn’t like her WHOLE ass was being shown. And it was a big thong – it wasn’t straight up the crack. And the shirt or dress or whatever was covering it. Plus, she was sitting down. She wasn’t on all fours with her ass up in the air. The whole “there are kids there” argument is so ridiculous. It wasn’t sexual in any way. It’s a butt. Kids have seen butts and will continue to see butts. And yeah… no one complains about the Dallas Cheerleaders’ outfits and “the children”.
Plenty of people have complained about the Dallas cheerleaders and the need for cheerleaders at all. And, afaik, cheerleaders wear shorts.
@mama, in San Francisco, it is okay to walk around completely naked. COMPLETELY NAKED. Most people don’t do it, BUT THERE IS ONE CREW of really old dudes who love to do it, and they were regularly meeting with some naked woman in public in support of public nudity. Locals got a measure put on the ballot that they couldn’t sit on the benches without covering because of sanitary issues. My recollection is that the locals won.
This isn’t about empowerment. She wants attention, and she got it. Or maybe she wants us all to feel free to be half naked? In clubs, women wear a lot of fishnet everything. That’s a club. I don’t want to see wrinkly old penis at the park bench, nor do I want to see a woman’s bare ass on a bench at the bus stop, twerking. It’s just penis, ass, humanity, but I don’t care to see it as a grown ass woman. Honey can bare all, but I will stop supporting what she does if she keeps being narcissistic, because, in my opinion, that is what this is.
It looks to me like nobody around her is challenging her. If that’s happening, she’s going to make mistakes. This was a mistake she has every right to make, and I have a right to disagree. And nude men and women have to wear underwear to sit on benches in San Francisco so that I don’t have to sit in someone else’s private part germs. Still germs, though.
I don’t want my little kid gawping at a bare bottom at a sporting event. It could be the most aesthetically pleasing bottom mankind has ever laid eyes on, but no, thank you. Pick an appropriate occasion if you’re into true self expression, maybe a night out at a hot new club opening or anything grown up centric. This just comes off as attention seeking and I agree that she did it just for the clap back opportunity.
Hahaha. If your kid is gawping (wtf is that?) maybe teach them not to? And it wasn’t her whole ass. And it was mostly covered. Plus, when she’s sitting down how are they “gawping” at a whole bare bottom?
“And then at one point, she got up and twerked so everyone could see.”
If we were sitting anywhere in the same vicinity, it would be pretty hard for a 5 year old to ignore & not ask me why the nice twerking lady forgot to wear her trousers. Sure, I could ask him not to stare but do you know any 5 year olds that can’t help being cheeky despite what they’re told? Please get off your high horse about parenting.
@Evil Owl – I suppose I would just address it when mine asked. We were in line at a Ross store recently and in front of us with a guy with his pants hanging down below his bottom. You could see all of his boxers :/ My 5 year old looked at him, looked at me, and I prayed he wouldn’t say something 😀 My normally chatty kid didn’t say a word but he kept his distance from the guy’s bottom. Hahaha!
@Mama: “Gawping” means to stare stupidly and openly. Use a dictionary before you “WTF” someone’s choice of words.
Also, @ Mama: Since you asked wtf gawping is, it’s the act of ‘staring openly in a stupid or rude manner’. Which is what small children are likely to do when presented with a bare, twerking bum within their range of vision.
@Nicole: That’s so sensible of your little one to keep his distance, I would like to think mine would too. What I worry about is my little guy starting to think it’s okay for him to flash his bum in public because look, grown ups do it too and get cheered on for it. I’m not going to judge someone’s right to free expression, but there’s a time & place for everything and this particular event that Lizzo chose wasn’t the best one, in my opinion .
I’m with the others. I love Lizzo and everything she about. I love her music, I love her message. She seems like a really cool girl. I’m all about beauty in all shapes and colors. I just don’t want to see anyone’s ass hanging out at an NBA game. It’s her body and her right to do whatever she wants with it, I’d find it distracting from anyone if I’m sitting next to them with the buns on full display.
Well… I followed her music before she became famous and she was not always like she is now. It’s off putting that she put her talent second to these stunts the minute she garners some fame. The fame monster strikes again. She looks like a damn fool.
Nevermind that it’s attention grabbing unhygienic nonsense. What bothers me is that she’s an artist who can choose better platforms to spread her message (award shows, music videos, magazine spreads) but chooses to do it in a public space AS WELL where people (fans or not) do not have to option to ignore her. I mean there’s children, families trying to enjoy sports. Famous or not that indecent behaviour should NEVER fall under body positivity or empowerment.
If anything her constant need for attention is diluting her message the more she insists on doing it. Her music achieved her goals so much better but she’s too scared I suppose to fall in anonymity to consider just being a good artist/performer. Too bad.
@Artemis, agree 💯
I agree. She’s doing the Miley/Madonna shock value tactic to garner attention instead of simply presenting her music which is great. She doesn’t NEED to do a blatant stunt like that, it cheapens her message.
I personally don’t believe an ass needs to be exposed to express one’s personality, but should one feel the need there are better venues than a sporting event. You KNOW there are people with their kids, people who are older, people who are more conservative about that kind of thing, and frankly, people who just wanna watch the game without a backside in their face, any backside. Pick a better venue…like a concert or a club.
Interestingly enough, every article or post defending her that I have seen has NOT shown the back of the dress. For all the celebratory words, they refuse to show the actual image. That must be a step too far. And it was on Lizzo’s part. Express yourself how you want, but there is a time and a place for everything. And that dress and butt cheeks and lips on stadium seats is not appropriate at a sporting event. If Miley or Kim had done it, there would have been a swift backlash. Lizzo isn’t being body positive. That’s not taking care of your body. But she is being a stunt queen.
Actually the first time I heard about the story, the article DID show the back of the dress and her twerking….so *shrugs*
I haven’t either, Derriere, and I’ve been to several sites, EU, US and home without seeing her butt.
Yes to the entire damn article, Kaiser. I especially loved, “if she wants her ass out, so be it.” She’s got an incredibly beautiful face! Too bad the other end got all the attentions. I don’t think she needs controversy, but I get that she wants publicity at all costs. About the song credits, not saying it’s right (if true), but so many artists don’t get slapped for this (white males, of course). Led Zeppelin won a lawsuit (wrongfully, I thought) because the group Spirit, which Zeppelin had been on tour with, had written music very similar to the later Stairway to Heaven. The lead singer was dead, Jimmy Page has expensive lawyers, and he won the case. Nobody CARES about that shit for some artists. And there’s also the fact that Page had a 14 year old girl kidnapped and delivered to him in his room. He then “kept” her for two years (underage rape, though she later said it was consensual) and dumped her for another teenager. Despicable man, untarnished reputation. But for POC and women, this stuff sticks. So unfair. So Lizzo’s ass cheeks are child’s play compared to what Page did.
The lawsuit against Lizzo is what happens to new artists. If the people who want credit and royalties had produced proof, I’d side with them, but that’s not what they did. They showed a video that doesn’t do anything but prove that she recorded a version of the song in their studio, and those people knew that she’d be suspected of using them when they showed her in a studio with them. In the world of music production, that’s meaningless. If they have a bunch of videos of them working out the lyrics, or lyrics that they can prove were around already that they gave her, they have a chance of winning.
Like you said, Led Zepplin and Page has much bigger issues, and the child who stayed with Page from 14 to 16 is a product of her mysogynistic time.
I love LIzzo.
#GOODASHELL #tellprudestokissyoura**
It’s not about ur body Lizzo and fat shaming it’s about having some class and decency in public. No one wants to see a mans privates hanging out either in public so no it’s not sexist
I don’t know if that’s definitely true. The discourse would be different if she were a thin woman of any other race.
See Miley Cyrus.
No, it wouldn’t. See Miley Cyrus.
Miley.
This.
I love Lizzo’s message in general, but this was NOT a body positivity thing. It was a “look at m and put me in headlines” thing.
As a fellow curvy woman, I absolutely HATE it when people use Body Positivity to mean Free to Act Like An A$$. I can be body positive and still have a sense of propriety, a sense of cleanliness, and frankly a sense of style.
This was just putting the a$$ in class, literally.
“It was a “look at m and put me in headlines” thing.”
Yup, this is a publicity stunt like those Lena Dunham and Amy Schumer were so fond of, where they would provoke their HaTeRs just to release a video later complaining about them.
You’re showing your whole ass at a sports event, Lizzo. You work in entertainment. You know the media works. Don’t act the fool.
I don’t care who you are, that was nasty. Everyone should cover their ass in public. Gross and there’s no justification.
I see people worried about LIzzo’s bare ass being on the dirty seat, I am wondering, what about the next clothed ass that has to sit on that seat? Did someone have to clean this seat? I mean, come on people. I don’t put my ass where someone else’s bare ass was, period. I even have those clorox wipes, I wipe my toilet seats whenever I have had guests, rather than wait for my housekeeper to clean the bathrooms that week. I do it immediately. So no, no to asses, sorry, you do know what comes out of them, right?
It was tacky but Rihanna has worn some tacky outfits to basketball games as well.She has sat on the sideline braless wearing see through stuff.I think there would have been some outrage but not as much if a thin Rihanna or Gaga or Miley pulled the same stunt.
Lizzo has been posting a lot of nude/semi nude pics lately and people are not used to seeing a big woman nude or a big woman in a thong.
Miley especially and Gaga would have been soundly roasted because they are disliked in these parts. It would definitely have been interesting to see the reaction had it been Rihanna though…
Nope. Dressing this way is strictly for attention IMO.
Talented people can create career opportunities by using their actual talent and creativity, not by showing their bare body parts in public.
Any attention, any publicity, anything to make a $. It is the Kardashian effect, and personally,I hate all of it.
I also just can’t stop thinking about the hygiene of a bare ass on a public seat. I hope it was anti-bacc’ed before and after 🙈
“…spread that love and these cheeks…”
Deceased.
Honestly, though. Most people keep their butts/tatas covered if they don’t want jail time or fines. Isn’t there some public nudity statute there?
There’s an entirely different set of standards for celebrities.
A bunch of people commenting who clearly didn’t see what she was actually wearing… not defending her or the outfit but maybe look it up first….
Well, here it is. Don’t click on it unless you really want to see it. She gets into a “discussion” with someone shooting the video.
https://twitter.com/fucknitty/status/1203913771879559168?s=21
Uh, I SAW it. Maybe others haven’t seen it, but I try to refrain from sharing opinions about stuff I don’t know about.
My question, regardless of who does it is, isn’t this what indecent exposure laws are about? And, as several have mentioned, health codes? If she wasn’t famous would she have been allowed to stay?
My question, regardless of who does it is, isn’t this what indecent exposure laws are about? And, as several have mentioned, health codes? If she wasn’t famous would she have been allowed to stay?
If you’re on the red carpet, wear whatever you like. I may not like it, but that’s on me. Same with the beach, night clubs, and other places that people show their bodies. If I don’t like it, that’s 100% on me.
If you’re at a basketball game, showing your rear, you’re involving me in your kink in a place I should reasonably expect not to see naked rear ends.
Choosing to go court-side ensures that everyone sees your body, which is wrong. She’s not the only one with the ability to make choices here, or she wasn’t until she took everyone else’s choices away.
I like her, but she’s wrong. People screaming about their rights and empowerment while forcing others to watch are wrong.
This sums it up for me perfectly. There’s a time and a place for dressing that way, like the beach or the club. If I saw someone wearing that at a nightclub I would raise my eyebrows, but it wouldn’t bother me. But wearing that in a sporting arena was inappropriate. I know my body is beautiful. I’m proud of it. That does not give me the right to behave indecently in public.
“People screaming about their rights and empowerment while forcing others to watch are wrong.”
Wow, that is a TERRIBLE line. See also “Gays are fine as long as I don’t have to watch them hold hands in public – they’re forcing me to watch!”
Holding hands isn’t the same as being half nude.
I’m not bothered by the nudity it’s the thought of a bare ass on a public seat that’s not “sitting well”.
I’m trying to imagine, though, if she were in a thong bathing suit on a public lounge chair if I’d still be so weirded out because we see models on yachts in thongs all the time and no one says omg get the Clorox wipes stat!
No one really chair-sits in thongs at the beach I guess?
That’s a good point. I’m glad you said this. I will bring my clorox wipes with me the next time I go to a resort. I find I am getting crazier about this stuff the older I get, but i don’t care, and thanks for this reminder. It’s just as gross, absolutely.
Tempest in a teacup. Distraction.
Eh, I don’t think nudity is really that big of a deal, particularly when you’ve got sexualized violence all over the media, but she should know as a black woman that the backlash will always be against her, not with her. I’m quite fond of her, but she’s no stranger to the fame game at this point. She knew that would be a controversy.
I dont care if you’re thin, fat out of shape, in great shape, or somewhere in between, if you love your body that’s awesome. But…..when you are in a public space with ordinary people have some decency and cover your butt. Have some respect for the people around you who dont want to see it.
Yeah. I just saw the dancing video…and it’s worse than I thought. I guess we’ve stepped beyond “leggings are not pants” to “thongs are not pants.”
I love Lizzo and her music, but if you follow her on social media, she wears outfits like this or just posts pics naked all the time. It’s her thing and it’s her right. I’m all for self-love and self-confidence, but the thought of my butt on a public chair grosses me out.
MellyMel, her videos and pics on Instagram are great. It’s what she wants to do, and she is promoting herself as a sex goddess. I love that. If she was at a fashion event schooling the folks who only design for skinny women, I’m with her. A basketball game? Nope, nope, nope.
Stay classy. 🙄
I respect her right to wear or say whatever she wants as long as she respects my right to dislike it. And if I had paid for seats to an event where I had to see another spectator’s naked ass (regardless of if she’s size 0 or 20) I’d be irate. Being a messy stunt queen and then complaining when people don’t respond favorably is very Miley of her.
The holed T-Shirt made me giggle.
I could not care less if I was behind her with my kids.
We would probably cheer her on when she started twerking.
What a non-issue and weird notions of hygiene. She did not have her v*lva on the seat for christ sakes. Or when someone wearing shorts and rubbing some skin on a seat also grosses you out? Honestly.
THANK YOU
All this pearl-clutching about “decency” and what someone can or can’t do just because you paid for sports tickets… please. She can wear what she wants. I agree this was a total attention- seeking gambit, but if no one cared, it wouldn’t be necessary. Everyone making a thing out of it is exactly her point. Way to play right into her hands, judgy puritans.
Yeah, whatever, TQB. People have a right to think what they think. Walk your free walk. That’s cool. Many of us can’t without risking everything, and everyone doesn’t want to see that walk.
Your judgement reminds me of the elections, and how white people want a perfect democratic candidate in the U.S., but many Black people want Joe Biden because he’s proven that he will move the needle as best he can for minorities. Minorities are far more conservative in our lives than many people acknowledge. Purist thought is going to keep me in my place while BBQ Becky polices my dark-skinned relatives. I wear an unpure, anti-humanist badge to someone like you because I see through what Lizzo is doing. That’s how white folks criticize the Black people who support Joe Biden. We are not radical enough for you, assuming you are white. You write as if you are because you feel so free judging the people on this site for expressing their opinions based on their own experiences.
Lizzo can be an agent provocateur all she wants. Her life. If she was sitting near me at a public event, I’d find it distracting and gross. On her Instagram? At fashion awards? At the Grammys? Sure! At Staples Center and you are in the audience and not on stage, and I didn’t buy a ticket to see you, nope…
@christina, your opinion about Lizzo’s attire is completely valid and I apologize for suggesting otherwise. Full stop.
Many comments have veered very far from “just my opinion – get out it out of my face!” and into “that should be prohibited or illegal.” I don’t think it’s radical to argue that women should not be told what to wear and when, especially a woman who does not conform to white America’s standard of beauty and appropriateness. But you’re right, I’m a white person, and that’s a purist opinion.
Of course she did this intentionally, and as much as I want to continue to be high-minded and insist her doing so prompts important discussions that ultimately make everyone more free, nah, she did it because this is her brand now. Regardless of Lizzo’s motivation here, isn’t it my responsibility to confront BBQ Becky when she turns up?
@bquiet, please confront Ms. Becky. Please make philosophical arguments that hopefully make things better for all of us, but understand that I am surrounded by White liberals, and they aren’t always as free and accepting as they seem. As a matter of fact, they tend to police the pragmatic choices and thoughts of people of color because they don’t live our experiences. Calling a bunch of people names, implying that we are puritans because we question an entertainer’s famewhoring is purist policing.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all show up to work however we wanted? Wouldn’t it be great if we could all show up anywhere however we wanted? And THERE ARE civil codes against public nudity! Atvthe Folson St Fair in SF (sex-themed), police won’t ticket a nudist sitting on a public bench because it is a fair. Doing on Wednesday at high noon and you will get a ticket because I just want to eat my sandwich and go back to work, and most of us agree. The problem is that there are codes of conduct. Everything doesn’t police just women, though most rules do. And women of color, like Lizzo, have a lot to lose. We make less money that you do, banking is set up against us, racism is In the DNA in first world societies that ravaged our homelands. Lizzo is fighting to be seen and to take up space. I get it, but I also have to live in the real world, where their are real consequences. Lizzo is in a position of privilege now. She doesn’t have to be anybody’s role model, but she is regardless of what she does as she is in the public eye. She has power, and she looked foolish doing what she did TO ME. All she has to worry about is losing fans, LIKE ME. I’m not gone yet, but if she continues to work these narcissistic tendencies, she will end up in my Tom Cruise/Scarlett Johanson/Woody Allen pile.
She is trying to promote fat positivity and beauty. She isn’t by doing this. Wear what you want, but don’t call me puritanical because I agree with others that I don’t want to see someone’s ass. That’s not sexy. It’s nasty, unless nasty is sexy to people, and I know it is to some.
Why so polarized? Is there not a middle ground between being totally fine with an adult twerking their naked ass in front of your children, and being a “judgy puritan”?
Of course there is – you roll your eyes and look away. I’m not saying you have to be fine with it, but to suggest that she should dress or behave differently to protect someone else’s personal, subjective standards makes one judgy and puritanical, yes. PS, I had to change my handle because I apparently got blocked for disagreeing with the post and the general consensus here.
This kind of reminds me of how Lena Dunham purposefully wears ill-fitting or fugly clothes to big events so people can talk about her. Lizzo is a smart woman and had to have known this would stir up controversy. Better to talk about her ass dress than shaming food delivery people, I guess.
I love Lizzo’s music and her whole attitude on doing her own thing. I don’t agree with anyone showing their a$$ in public like this, no matter what sex, size or age. But it does seem to be that folks are weirded out more because of her size. no one said anything about Brooks Nader wearing a freakin see-through dress so some show the other night and that falls in the same category.
I don’t care about people’s outfits. I used to until I realized it’s not important to me personally how people dress. It doesn’t affect my life. It’s just more rules taking up energy, more to get upset about.
The only thing I care about is please shower as needed. Don’t sit on me on the subway. Please carry on.
LOL preach. I think b/c my mom has always been very judgy about people’s appearance and following certain rules (e.g. not wearing bra straps with tank tops) I’ve become more laissez faire about it all. It brings me no joy to have a negative opinion about someone’s appearance.
Judgy people are fun though (unless you’re young). They’re easily upset and can rarely explain why something drives them nuts. My favorite argument is THE CHILDREN! I’m not a parent but how will your kid be scarred by a human body? It’s amazing to me how most of us are still so repressed in 2019.
If Lizzo can’t draw the distinction between freedom of expression and LITERALLY showing her ass at a public forum where children are in attendance and are also watching on national television…then she needs a level of help that requires a Psychotherapist….
Seriously…
She is leaning into narcissistim.
Oh…I think she’s buying a second property in the land of “Narcissism”!
I can not and will not with her….
@Lala, BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!
I like Lizzo, and I don’t mind her ass. I just don’t want to see it at a Laker game. Same with Rihanna. Folks can do whatever they want, but I’m not trying to see that. But the stadium doesn’t care because they want the publicity, just like she does.
She has the right to do what she wants but no way is that appropriate for anyone of any size at that venue. Sorry for the prudishness. She wanted a reaction and got it. Between this and putting that poor delivery person on blast ( happy lawsuit), is she having a struggle moment? Love her music and she’s super talented but not everyone handles fame and exposure ( ha ha) well all the time. She’s definitely having a moment.
She has the right to wear whatever she wants, yes….but if she werent a celebrity…Im sure she would be kicked out for wearing that. It’s a bit of a double standard.
It’s just unsanitary. I don’t care how much she weighs.
they’re correct
https://www.facebook.com/110218365992057/posts/1058435284503689/
I find cheerleaders totally outdated and frankly odd AND don’t appreciate seeing adults in the crowd exposting themselves at a game.
I’d have the same reaction if anyone hiked up their dress, bent a bare-ass and started humping air. Visible disgust. And bewilderment. Complete unabashed confusion.
I still love Lizzo.
I am older tho & have worn some serious shit in the day, so, I’m not down to judge negatively. I’m more live & let live on this brouhaha.
I don’t really care, do u? Lol 😂
Feeling good as hell
I love her and she can do what she wants, but I unfollowed her on IG because I was over scrolling and seeing her ass-naked every 5 minutes. She’s feeling herself and that’s great, but she’s really having a moment where she wants to be in everyone’s face about it. I unfollow all people who want to post half naked pics of themselves; do you, but I’m not interested.
She’s missing the point. It’s not about size, it’s about being appropriate for the occasion and having class. A basketball game is not the place to have your ass showing. Same thing goes for men showing their cracks!!!
I’m over people who use public nudity to garner attention and then use body positivity as an excuse for their gross lack of taste. You want to wear that on a beach, at an awards show ( for YOUR industry) fine, do you. No one wants to go out and about and be treated to a view of your bits. I don’t care for it from the Kardashians , Lizzo or anyone else. Btw, can we talk about how gross it is to sit on a stadium seat like that??? YUCK!
As for me, I’m over people misusing the phrase “could NOT care less.”
Thank you! Double negative so they’re actually saying they COULD care less 🙂
Sorry- I must be late to the game now that I’m gainfully employed, but what TF is a Lizzo? Also, if my (somewhat) skinny, pasty ass did that I would have been asked to leave.
A lot of people are saying that it’s just about time and place, and that things like this should be saved for award shows, red carpets, magazines, stage performances, videos, people’s own social media accounts, partying, or the beach. The funny thing about that though is that every one of the immodest women named in the comment section (plus lots of others) have actually been slut-shamed and victim-blamed quite aggressively even when saving it for those venues, even here, and not always because of visible booty. It’ll be interesting to see how the goalposts are looking the next time a woman is immodest in one of those more appropriate venues. 🧐🤔
I’ve been thinking about this on and off, trying to figure out how I felt about it. On the one hand, I don’t want to judge her for what she wears. I know what’s it’s like to get dirty looks from other women cause they think you’re dressed too sexy. Otoh, it’s gross and trashy behavior imo. So I just got off work and watched her video on here. And she really reminds me a lot of my stepdaughter in that tiny video. I didn’t realize how young Lizzo is and my stepdaughter is about her age. My stepdaughter is 23. Shes plus sized like Lizzo. She’s very pretty, does her makeup perfectly and walks around like she’s very confident. But one day, she was over at our house and her dad and she were weighing themselves. My husband, not thinking, said she weighed almost as much as him. And he didn’t even realize what he said would hurt but she was so upset. She’s really self conscious about her weight and I think some of the way she carries herself is to hide the fact that she is upset with how she looks. Maybe Lizzo is the same way. And really, Lizzo looks pretty young. If we can get past skinny cheerleaders CLEARLY there for their sex appeal, then surely we can let some young girl shaking her butt for a minute slide.
I don’t care about her size, that dress is nasty no matter who wore it.
The sanitation and decency blame isn’t doing it. It’s patriarchy saying that women should be clean and classy
Men pee and spit all over walls, steps, lawns, street corners in the open, are we going after them because hygiene and willy out? No, patriarchy says it’s ok, we find it normal and find excuses for it
An unashamed and proud black woman is pulling a stunt like a thin blondie? Go for it
Another woman is trying to be as free and provocative as Madonna? Go for it
A woman isn’t classy? I like class and there should be more of it in the world but I am so tired it’s always up to women to be classy that I truly applaud lizzo, her thong, her germs and her lack of class
A woman will not be reduced by the tall poppy syndrome and self-reduce herself to the limits of good taste, decency and social norms? Burn them a scorched earth, Lizzo, burn 🙂
Good point. Love your comment.
Bodyshaming is wrong but you can dislike a clothing item at any time. That dress is very ugly and tacky in my opinion.
“….Your criticism has no effect on me,” she asserted while responding at length in a video.