Self-love and body positivity anthems once dominated the airwaves. Lizzo topped nearly everyone’s “I Am Me” playlist with her debut album Cuz I Love You. The project had music to blast during a workout, or when you needed a gentle reminder you’re one-of-a-kind.

As the newest IT Girl at the time, she benefited from society’s growing demand for uplifting songs. Lizzo won four Grammys (including Record of the Year in 2023), stayed in the top 10 of the Billboard Charts, and won an Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program in 2022 as executive producer and host of her Prime Video series, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.

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Besides her talent, what made the “Truth Hurts” singer stand out was her unapologetic self, wearing clothes others thought weren’t ‘for her body type,’ dancing and loving herself out loud. Fans admired her; others said she was doing too much. Regardless, all eyes were on Lizzo during her commercial success (2019-2023), and she sold 20.5 million certified digital units in the US.

So, what happened to Lizzo’s fans?

Between 2020 and 2022, I listened to Lizzo’s music without being a diehard fan. I appreciated her messages and hooks but didn’t find her songs through streaming playlists. My exposure was mostly through radio. Lizzo acknowledged this on June 7th, responding to an X (formerly Twitter) user who asked where her fans had gone:

I actually can answer this: the industry changed so much in the last 3 yrs. streaming replaced radio & I was a radio darling. That’s how my fans discovered my music. Not to mention the very obvious & public attack on my career changed things.

But I’m out here doing my absolute best and u can’t knock a b—ch for that.

I actually can answer this: the industry changed so much in the last 3 yrs. streaming replaced radio & I was a radio darling. That’s how my fans discovered my music. Not to mention the very obvious & public attack on my career changed things.

But I’m out here doing my absolute… https://t.co/hSlxl64C7s

— LIZZO (@lizzo) June 7, 2026

By “attack,” I believe Lizzo is referring to the 2023 harassment lawsuit filed by her former backup dancers, who sued her and her touring company. After news of the lawsuit broke, Lizzo’s songs disappeared from the radio, and many former supporters stopped backing her.

Final thoughts

Only a handful of artists achieve decades-long longevity. Michael Jackson (who still earns new Hot 100 entries decades after his death), Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Mariah Carey are rare examples. Their music has generational pull, and their fans refuse to let their art fade while the music industry puts a different person in the spotlight every few years.

Lizzo is talented, but I don’t think she built a strong fanbase during her commercial peak. This, along with the lawsuit, is why her music career is where it is now. She’s not doing bad, though, she made a song for Scream 6, Chili’s tapped her for a remix of the classic Baby Back Ribs jingle, and she still co-owns the shapewear brand Yitty.

Image credit: Instagram/@lizzobeeating