Lizzo has revealed that her plans to return fully to music have been derailed by the legal troubles she continues to face.
Speaking in an interview with Vulture published on Monday, the About Damn Time singer reflected on dropping her singles Love in Real Life and Still Bad earlier this year, even though she has not yet decided whether to move forward with her fifth studio album.
Unlike the structured rollout she had when she released Special in 2022, the Grammy-winning star admitted she has no clear direction this time around.
“I put out those two singles, and it feels like I had a crash course in what putting music out as a pop artist in 2025 looks like, and it’s… interesting. The industry and the landscape change every year. What worked last year is not going to work this year,” the 37-year-old said. “I am flying by the seat of my pants, which is crazy because I had three years to plan this s**t out, and all of my plans kind of crumbled.”
The singer also acknowledged that her ongoing lawsuits have weighed heavily on her creativity.
In 2023, three former backup dancers sued Lizzo, her production company, and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley, alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and a hostile work environment. That same year, designer Asha Daniels also filed a similar lawsuit.
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, has denied all allegations. While some claims have since been dismissed, the cases are still ongoing, and her touring company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, remains a defendant in Daniels’ lawsuit. Editors at Vulture confirmed that a trial has been set for December.
Despite the legal storm, Lizzo released her third mixtape, My Face Hurts from Smiling, in June. Reflecting on the move, she explained her motivation:
“I think I needed to drop those songs so I could subvert that expectation of me because, in turn, it created this new discovery that I really wanted. I wanted people to rediscover who I am and fall in love with her all over again.”
