Lizzo reveals her new album was inspired by former friend who ‘secretly hated me’
Lizzo Reveals New Album Inspiration Behind Feud
Lizzo reveals her new album was inspired - The pop star reveals her new album was inspired by a personal betrayal rather than public drama. Melissa Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, recently shared that her latest musical project drew creative energy from a private friendship dissolution that unfolded away from media spotlight. The singer explained how her record "Bitch" emerged from this unexpected source of inspiration.
Despite her track record of commercial triumphs, the latest release encountered challenges on major charts. Industry reports indicate the album sold merely 2,649 copies during its opening week across United States and United Kingdom markets. Those figures dropped dramatically to just 650 units by the following week.
Legal Battles and Personal Connections
Fans and critics searched for answers within the album's lyrics regarding ongoing legal proceedings. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, featured three former backup dancers making claims against the singer, her production company, and dance captain Shirlene Quigley. The accusations included sexual harassment, body shaming, and creating a hostile work environment.
Sophia Nahli Allison, a dancer and filmmaker who previously worked as the singer's creative director, publicly supported the dancers' positions. Allison mentioned witnessing what she termed "unkind and cruel" behavior during their documentary partnership.
The artist has consistently denied all accusations. A judge dismissed several claims, especially those concerning weight-shaming allegations. Legal proceedings continue as the performer maintains her commitment to resolving matters through proper channels.
"I'm not afraid of the truth," the singer explained during her CBS Mornings appearance with Gayle King. "The truth is less salacious than the headlines."
A Friendship That Turned Bitter
In a recent Guardian interview for their Saturday Magazine feature, the pop star disclosed that her reflections on fame predated the legal complications. She felt observers were too eager to link every song to courtroom allegations.
The performer highlighted that several melancholic tracks actually addressed a personal relationship that ended quietly. She specifically referenced "Like a Crime," describing it as directed toward someone who "broke my heart and stole my life."
"That song is about a friend who I was very close with and I employed them and believed in them and they were extremely abusive and lied about me," the artist shared. "It was one of the hardest friendship breakups I've ever had. I really loved this person, and they secretly hated me and I don't know why."
According to the singer, the last conversation with this former friend involved the person mentioning thoughts about her and hoping "everything's OK." Yet approximately twelve months later, the same individual appeared online criticizing the performer harshly, leaving her bewildered by the sudden attitude change.
"Then a year later they were on the internet talking about how horrible a person I am, and I was so confused because I was, like, 'I thought we were good,'" she recalled. "That was the most hurtful thing I've experienced in a long time."
The performer emphasized that this particular individual was not among the dancers pursuing legal action. She characterized the person as someone who had simply "joined a hate train" without any formal legal claims.
Album Performance and Reception
The Independent's review of "Bitch" awarded the album two stars, calling it "strangely muted and full of cliched platitudes that suggest she can't even convince herself that she's OK, let alone the rest of us." The publication noted that while the record attempted to rebuild the singer's pre-controversy image as a confident queen, it ultimately felt inconsistent.
The commercial results marked a significant departure from previous efforts. The 2022 album "Special" achieved remarkable success, moving over 39,000 copies in its debut week and accumulating 69,000 album equivalent units when including streaming and download figures. That achievement secured the number two position on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Special" also earned widespread critical acclaim and received multiple Grammy nominations, ultimately winning the prestigious Record of the Year award for the hit single "About Damn Time." This contrast highlights both the challenges the performer faces in maintaining momentum and the resilience required to continue creating music amid personal and professional turbulence.