Lizzo speaks up on her childhood insecurity
Los Angeles, June 12
Singer-songwriter Lizzo is walking down the memory lane, as she recollected her childhood. The singer spoke about her insecurities as a child.
She also shared that she was bad at playing the flute until she perfected it, reports 'People' magazine.
The singer told the Los Angeles Times, "I grew up feeling very annoyed. It was a huge insecurity of mine. I'm the baby in the family, and I played probably the most annoying instrument to be bad at. Hearing someone be bad at the flute is a nightmare. And I was bad for at least two years".
But as Lizzo (born Melissa Viviane Jefferson) said, there's something "powerful" about overcoming those insecurities.
She further mentioned, "I've had that anxiety shadow me my whole life, and I think I'm healing something in myself, in my inner child, that I didn't even realize I'm healing".
As per 'People', she also looked back on the criticisms and said that she has become immune to criticism over a period of time.
She said, "I've heard everything I could possibly hear about me, so nothing can bother me now. I've seen myself mashed up with Kamala Harris. I've seen me as a mannequin dummy. I've seen Chili's baby back ribs slathered across my face".
"The general public, nine times out of 10, they think they're laughing at me. I'm like, 'Honey, I'm laughing with you laughing at me all the way to the bank'".
Lizzo is aware that, as an outspoken Black woman, she faces public disparagement. "Black women get it even worse. I think that most of the criticisms and dislike for me are fatphobic and racist and sexist", she shared.
"I'm a fat Black woman and I'm existing outside the parameters in which society thinks I should exist. I've always been a little too much, that's my personality. But I'm like, 'Am I too much or are you not enough?' I'd rather be annoying than invisible", she added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The flute story is relatable. My mom made me learn tabla and I was terrible for years! It's true what she said about overcoming those insecurities - makes you stronger. But I wish she didn't always bring race into every criticism. Some people just don't like the music, it's okay.
Her confidence is admirable. But as an Indian, I feel we also have our own versions of body shaming and colorism. It's good to see someone like her speak openly about insecurities and not caring about trolls. She's right - better to be 'annoying' than invisible! 👏
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, loving yourself is important. On the other hand, I think some of her performances are deliberately provocative. But then again, why should we expect women to be modest all the time? She's making her point about double standards quite effectively.
"I'd rather be annoying than invisible" - that's going to stick with me. In India, we're often told to 'adjust' and fit in. Lizzo's message about claiming space is universal. Also, learning she was bad at flute made me chuckle - she's human like us! 😄
While I respect her journey, I think she sometimes comes across as aggressive. But maybe that's because society labels confident women as 'too much'. Her point about fatphobia and racism is valid - in India too, we shame people for their bodies. We need more open conversations like this.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.