Fresh off the release of her new mixtape My Face Hurts From Smiling, GRAMMY-winning artist Lizzo is getting candid about one of the darkest periods of her life.
In a powerful cover story for Women’s Health, the Rumors singer opens up about the emotional toll of facing sexual harassment and assault allegations from three former backup dancers—Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez—who filed lawsuits in August 2023.
“I got very paranoid and isolated,” Lizzo admitted. “I used to walk into glam and be like, ‘Oh, let me tell you about this crazy sh*t that happened last night!’ I couldn’t do that anymore. I pushed everyone away. I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore.”
Though Lizzo says she never considered taking her own life, she revealed the emotional weight left her questioning her purpose.
“It got to the point where I was like, ‘I could die.’ I never attempted to kill myself or thought about it, but I did think, If everyone hates you and thinks you’re a terrible person, then what’s the point?”
A turning point came when she attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour.
“It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die. Life is worth living. That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your f—ing life back.’”
Legal Battle Still Ongoing
Last month, Lizzo filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing it infringes on her First Amendment rights. A judge has thrown out certain claims, including allegations of fat shaming, but others—including charges of sexual harassment, racial and religious discrimination, and false imprisonment—are still moving forward.
The dancers’ attorney, Rob Zambrano, emphasized that some of the most serious allegations remain intact, including incidents allegedly occurring at Bananenbar in Amsterdam and Crazy Horse in Paris.