Lizzo Fires Back at Critics Over Her Weight as She Opens Up About 'Pressure' to Look a Certain Way

Lizzo pushed back against body-shaming while opening up about the pressure women face to look a certain way.

"I’ve gained 20 pounds since last year, so everyone can ask me about weight gain, too, if they’d like," the singer told The Guardian in an interview published on Saturday, July 11.

Lizzo addressed the ongoing public discussion of her appearance and explained why conversations about weight often oversimplify the issue.

"There’s a system of oppression that is constantly putting pressure on, especially women and especially women in the spotlight," she revealed.

The Grammy winner called that pressure "unrelenting" and said it was "determined to make you feel s--- about yourself."

She added, "It won’t stop until you’ve bought every product and you’ve bought into every lie and turned it in on yourself. That system is working at an all-time high right now."

Lizzo revealed that she does not believe there is a single, simple explanation for her dramatic physical transformation.

"There are a lot of reasons," she told the outlet when asked about her motivation for losing weight.

"People always want to make it one single headline, one single thing," she continued, adding, "A lot of things can be true at once."

Lizzo first revealed her weight-loss transformation in January 2025, sharing that she had reached a number on the scale she had not seen since 2014.

Looking back, she explained that health concerns played a role in her decision to make changes.

"I was in a place where my physical weight was causing joint pain and aches," she told The Guardian.

The performer also said stepping away from social media gave her time to focus on herself and her daily habits.

"I also got to the point where I came off the internet, and all I had was the studio and my thoughts, so I poured myself into the things I could control," she shared.

Lizzo continued, "My body, my lifestyle, my routines and habits … and this is who I am today."

Since opening up about her journey, the artist regularly shared updates with fans and offered insight into her weight loss through pictures.

Lizzo continued to embrace body positivity and said her confidence was not tied to a specific size. In a July 2025 interview with Women’s Health, she reflected on how she saw herself today.

She said, "I like how I look now. I still think I’m big. I’m still wearing plus-size clothing. I have the same rolls. I got the same belly, the same thighs — I think I’m just a smaller version."

The singer also stressed that body positivity is about self-acceptance.

"Body positivity is the radical act of daring to exist loudly and proudly in a society that told you you shouldn’t exist," Lizzo said.