In recent years, social media has become a platform for celebrities to air their opinions and engage in public spats with other artists. Azealia Banks, known for her outspoken nature, took to Instagram in 2019 to criticize Lizzo, just as the latter was rising to fame with her hit song “Truth Hurts.”
Fast forward to 2023, and that video resurfaces, gaining traction once again, coinciding with a lawsuit filed against Lizzo by three of her former dancers, accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The video seems to have resurfaced first on Tiktok and then Twitter.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges disturbing behavior on the part of Lizzo and her dance team captain. The dancers claim that they faced excruciating auditions and false accusations of drinking on the job. Moreover, they accused Lizzo of body-shaming one dancer and subsequently firing her after she recorded a meeting related to a health condition. These allegations are serious and should be treated with the utmost care and attention.
Azealia Banks in the 2019 video criticized the singer using fat-shaming and racially charged language. Banks referred to Lizzo as a “mammy,” a derogatory term rooted in the history of slavery, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
While opinions on social media are diverse, a portion of users are applauding Azealia Banks for voicing her concerns about Lizzo’s rise to fame and her performance style.
They argue that Banks’ criticisms, though delivered in a controversial manner, seemed to question the authenticity and impact of Lizzo’s persona. With the ongoing allegations against the singer, these users believe that Banks’ previous comments have gained some validation.
Azealia Banks’ 2019 video against Lizzo has resurfaced amid accusations of sexual harassment against the singer by former dancers. While the two incidents are separate, they underscore the importance of responsible social media use and the need to address harassment and hostile work environments in the entertainment industry.
