Pop singer Lizzo's fifth studio album, Bitch, released on June 5, has experienced a sharp decline in commercial success, failing to reach the Billboard 200 chart within its first two weeks.
The record sold fewer than 3,000 copies in its first week and accumulated under one million Spotify streams in its initial 24 hours, a stark contrast to her previous chart-topping releases.
The poor reception follows an ongoing 2023 workplace misconduct lawsuit filed by three former backup dancers—Noelle Rodriguez, Arianna Davis, and Crystal Williams—who alleged sexual harassment, body shaming, and a hostile work environment.
In a recent interview with Swiftologist on June 28, Lizzo expressed personal distress over the album's initial performance metrics before reframing her perspective on success.
"Oh, OK, this isn't what I thought it would be," said Lizzo.
The singer stated that relying entirely on commercial figures to evaluate her artistic value was emotionally damaging during the launch period.
"I didn't think it would be crazy, but I also didn't think it would be this.
There was, like, 24 hours of my life where I based my success and my worth on a number, and I think that was soul-crushing," said Lizzo.
She later explained that she turned to personal reflection and spiritual grounding to find pride in the creative work she delivered.
"I had to reframe and be like, 'But aren't you proud of yourself?' And I was like, 'Yeah, I actually am proud of myself.'
Aren't you excited to sing these songs? Aren't you glad they're out?'
Yeah," said Lizzo.
The artist admitted that the poor numbers affected her deeply because she felt confident in the quality of the tracks.
"I was really stressed and I was really sad for a few days, because I just was like, 'Wait a minute.
This is some of my best stuff. I want people to find it,'" said Lizzo.
Ahead of the album release, she told USA TODAY that the project was an effort to reclaim her personal narrative and identity from outside public perception.
"A lot of my identity has been manipulated by people outside of me, so this album is me taking that back − showing the Lizzo everybody knows and loves, letting her tell her side of the story and just letting her play again," said Lizzo.
Former Dancers Speak Out
Meanwhile, the former dancers involved in the lawsuit stated that their legal action was intended to enforce accountability rather than damage the singer's professional standing.
"It was never our intention to take down a woman of color," said Noelle Rodriguez, one of the plaintiffs.
Rodriguez emphasized that the lawsuit was not designed as a targeted public relations attack against the pop star.
"It was never an intention to take down a plus size woman of color specifically," said Noelle Rodriguez.
She added that she felt mixed emotions watching the subsequent downturn in her former employer's musical career.
"I don't really think it's our place to discuss or even have an opinion on how her career is going at this point, when that wasn't even our reason for filing in the first place," said Noelle Rodriguez.
Rodriguez noted that she felt a sense of sorrow regarding how the legal dispute ultimately manifested in the public sphere.
"It was never a smear campaign. It was never to take somebody down.
I think if anything, in retrospect, I've actually had some sadness in the fact that it has impacted her career," said Noelle Rodriguez.
Co-plaintiff Crystal Williams stated that the private behavior within the production company contradicted the public platform of empowerment that the singer promoted.
"I feel like her whole brand, aside from body positivity, was positivity in general — uplifting women, especially uplifting women of color and just, you know, being kind to one another, being kind to yourself," said Crystal Williams.
Williams alleged that the internal corporate culture was entirely detached from the outward message of kindness.
"Her entire message and platform and her brand was the entire opposite whenever doors were closed, whenever we were in private meetings," said Crystal Williams.
Legal Team Responds
In response to the ongoing civil case, legal representatives for the pop star maintained that the allegations brought forward by the plaintiffs lacked factual support.
"Not a single witness has come forward to support their allegations," said Melissa Glass, attorney for Lizzo.
Glass asserted that numerous other production staff members and performers disputed the claims made by the three dancers.
"In fact, their claims were refuted by 18 witnesses, including most of the other dancers on 'The Special Tour,'" said Melissa Glass.
The defense team expressed full confidence that the legal proceedings would conclude in favor of the musician.
"We are confident that Lizzo will prevail in the case," said Melissa Glass.
