Lizzo: “I’m taking a sabbatical and protecting my serenity”
For the new album of Lizzo will have to wait until well into 2024. The pop star recently shared a rather chilled-out Instagram Reel from her Bali vacation with the caption, “Taking a gap year and protecting my peace of mind.” She previously said, “I’ve never been happier in 10 months.”
A gap year is a period of personal time to experience new things and discover yourself before moving on to the next stage of your life. But a gap year can also be a time of rest, as Lizzo has been working tirelessly since she entered the music industry in 2011, and 2023 has been one of the most turbulent years of her career. She has had some major wins: a 2023 Grammy Award for “Record of the Year,” a major contribution to Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s “Barbie” soundtrack, and the final leg of her “Special Tour,” which has seen Lizzo play some of the biggest shows of her career around the world.
But it hasn’t all been so easy and smooth. There have been some problems lately. Lizzo was sued by her former dancers for sexual harassment and maintaining a hostile work environment. Lizzo responded to the allegations by calling them “outrageous” and “sensational.” She was then the subject of a further accusation from her former costume designer (the lawsuit was primarily about Lizzo’s wardrobe manager, Amanda Nomura, but she claims that Lizzo was well aware of Nomura’s inappropriate behavior and failed to address it).
Lizzo sought a dismissal of the sexual harassment case, but was denied; she appealed, however, and the case is currently on hold. Since then, Lizzo has spoken openly on social media about her mental health issues and frustration with public criticism. In March, Lizzo all but quit music: “I’m tired of having my personal life on the internet all the time,” she said, “I’m constantly dealing with lies being told about me to get influence and views… I’m always the butt of jokes because of how I look… my character is being torn apart by people who don’t know me and don’t respect my name. I didn’t sign up for this shit – I quit.”
She adjusted her statement, saying she wasn’t giving up music, but she was “giving attention to any negative energy.” “What I’m not giving up is the joy in my life, which is making music, which is connecting with people,” she said. “I know I’m not alone. In no way, shape, or form am I the only person who’s experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive voice… I’m going to keep going, I’m going to keep being me.” Now Lizzo is back in active social media mode, writing in May, “I’m the happiest I’ve been in the last 10 months.” And she’s been posting snaps from her buen retiro.
