Lizzo is apparently not hanging up her flute after all.
After the musician declared that she “quit” in a social media post on Friday amid backlash for performing at a glitzy fundraiser for President Joe Biden, the Grammy-winner clarified on Tuesday that she simply “quit giving any negative energy attention.”
On Thursday’s show, Megyn was joined by Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan to discuss the flip-flop and the “entitlement” on display from Lizzo.
The Flip-Flop
Lizzo was one of the performers who headlined the star-studded fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall last week for President Joe Biden. The selection of the “Good as Hell” singer raised some eyebrows given the fact that she is currently facing a lawsuit from former backup dancers accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment.
Attorneys for the accusers wasted no time slamming the performance. “It’s shameful that Lizzo would be chosen to headline an event like this amid such egregious allegations,” Ron Zambrano told NewsNation. “Without getting into the politics, I can’t imagine why anyone would want Lizzo representing them in any way given her reprehensible behavior. It’s just a terrible look.”
Not long after the remarks, Lizzo took to Instagram to seemingly announce her retirement. “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet,” she wrote in part. “I’m starting to feel like this world does not want me in it… I didn’t sign up for this sh-t… I QUIT.”
There was plenty of speculation as to what Lizzo meant by “quit,” and she waited until Tuesday to post a video message clarifying her remarks. “I wanted to make this video because I just need to clarify when I say, ‘I quit,’ I mean I quit giving any negative energy attention,” she said. “What I’m not going to quit is the joy of my life, which is making music and connecting to people. And I know I’m not alone. In no way, shape, or form am I the only person experiencing that negative voice that’s louder than the positive.”
The Truth Hurts
In Megyn’s view, the situation illustrates Lizzo’s “disgusting sense of entitlement” despite all of her success. “She’s got all these advantages. She’s got so many blessings… She gets celebrated at every turn. She gets asked to appear before three presidents,” Megyn explained. “But because some people dare to criticize her online, she is going to throw a fit like a little brat and say ‘I quit’?”
Callahan said the success Lizzo has found in music and pop culture is nothing short of remarkable. “All of [her] accomplishments… are exceedingly, vanishingly rare in the cultural landscape,” she said. “To break through all the noise in this incredibly fragmented culture and become a mainstream pop star, it’s incredibly difficult. So, she’s already in the one percent of the one percent.”
And there are some things that come with that level of fame and success. “I don’t want to hear about how she doesn’t like online negative comments anymore – you put yourself in the public eye; you want fame and fortune; there’s a downside,” Callahan concluded. “Most of us take it like men or women and don’t go whining and quit… [But] as it turns out, she wants more of your money because she’s back in the business.”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Callahan by tuning in to episode 757 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.