Lizzo declared ‘it’s about damn time’ that she returned to music, but her surprise announcement hasn’t quite been met with the excitement she probably anticipated.
The 38-year-old singer stepped away from the spotlight in 2023 after three of her former backup dancers accused her of harassment in various forms.
Those allegations shattered public perception of the Pink singer, who was heralded as a vocal spokesperson on women’s issues, particularly body positivity.
After years of advocating for diversity, suddenly Lizzo was accused of upholding those very ideals she’d rallied against. She has denied everything.
Three years later, and the lawsuit is still ongoing, albeit with the fat-shaming claim dismissed, but Lizzo is not shying away from the controversy.
Her next album will be boldly titled ‘B**ch’, which she’s explained is an attempt to ‘reclaim’ the word still used to ‘diminish women’.
But while her intention might be admirable, for many, it’s a tone deaf attempt at feminism more at home in the 2010s than the modern world.
‘Reclaiming the word B**ch is power,’ said Lizzo, according to People. ‘It’s taking a label once used to diminish women and turning it into a declaration of confidence, and unapologetic self-love.’
The album, set for release on June 5, includes a track with the same name, as well as the already released 80s-inspired pop ballad Don’t Make Me Love U.
‘So many incredible women in music have used the word for positivity like Meredith Brooks and Missy [Elliott],’ she shared.
‘It was only fitting to name my album B**ch because it has become my favourite word when using it on my own terms. And because I am 100% that b**ch.’
‘She’s a b**ch’
Of course, we all know that the term originally meant a female dog, but the meaning began to shift as early as 1400 AD into slang for a female sex worker.
Over the years, the word has stuck around, developing into the verb ‘to b**ch’ meaning to complain – still with a misogynistic edge.
In modern memory, discourse around the word was at an all-time high about a decade ago, when we saw prominent figures like Hillary Clinton and Taylor Swift subjected to abuse.
T-shirts were sold with the rallying motto ‘Trump that b**tch’ during the 2016 US election, which saw current POTUS Donald Trump elected for the first time.
The following year,Hillary wrote in her memoir: ‘Misogyny is something darker. It’s rage. Disgust. Hatred. It’s what happens when a woman gets a job that a man wanted, and instead of shaking her hand and wishing her well, he calls her a b**ch and vows to do everything he can to make sure she fails.’
Around the same time, Taylor’s reputation album was sparked by Kanye West declaring, ‘I made that b**ch famous’ before asserting she ‘might owe him sex’ for his presumed part in her career.
He then went on to record a music video in which a naked wax sculpture of her lay next to him in bed as phone calls between the pair were leaked.
Taylor maintained that she never approved the lyric ‘that b**ch’ with a statement saying she had ‘cautioned him about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message’.
‘I love you b**ch’
Almost 10 years later, the Cruel Summer singer herself has released multiple tracks featuring the word largely because it’s already been reclaimed.
Yes, it is still rooted in misogyny and hate speech, but b**ch has increasingly become a term of endearment between women and the queer community.
Cultish podcast host Amanda Montell wrote in 2015 that ‘a conclusively positive reappropriation of b**ch has risen’.
Even in 1997, we had Meredith Brooks’ iconic song B**ch, listing – and celebrating – all the psyches she had as a woman and as a human. Lizzo will also interpolate this track on the new album.
Lizzo herself has used the term b**ch so often that it’s become her brand, featuring in songs like I Love You B**ch, Truth Hurts and About Damn Time.
In 2023, she actually trademarked ‘100% That B**ch’, which appeared in her number-one 2019 song Truth Hurts and became synonymous with her.
Discussing the album on Reddit, CaptainMills said: ‘People use ‘b**ch’ so casually now that this makes Lizzo sound like she’s about 20 years behind the rest of the world.’
One fan said the album title felt ‘defensive and performative’ after the allegations against her, while others branded it an attempt to start discourse.
EbmocwenHsimah compared it to Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem – something we’re not sure Lizzo would take as a compliment – in its ‘passive-aggressive’ positioning.
Since her mixtape last year ‘flopped’, some speculated Lizzo’s team were intentionally attempting to create backlash to gain some traction.
Ad wrote: ‘Even as a marketing strategy, especially the “all bad promo is still promo” angle, this is just deeply uninspiring, lazy and lacklustre.
‘Honestly, whoever got paid for working as a “creative”… why? It’s very insulting and I feel like those tactics are forcing discourse out of us via dull ragebaiting.’
‘B**ch please’
While the sentiment behind Lizzo’s messaging is one of women’s autonomy – as much of her branding has been – it all feels a little out of place now.
Ahead of its release, B**ch feels more akin to Katy Perry’s Woman’s World (without the controversial Dr Luke association) than it does to empowerment anthems like viral sensation Paris Paloma’s Labour.
In the face of the manosphere and a rising gender divide when it comes to politics, her ‘grrrl’ power sentiment just isn’t enough.
This outdated feeling isn’t helped by her new songs using ‘U’ instead of ‘you’ or ‘2’ instead of ‘to’, which just feels cringe in 2026.
Fans felt particularly put off by the chosen album artwork, branded by one Reddit user as an ‘eyesore’.
She will almost certainly provide catchy songs and good vocals, so B**ch or its singles will likely chart, although her 2025 mixtape struggled.
Lizzo’s been a vocal activist for years, but with that lawsuit bubbling in the background, the 2016 feminism talking points don’t have the same impact.
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