Lizzo unleashes the truth behind her latest album, 'Bitch', which has left critics and fans alike scratching their heads - but not before she took a hard hit from someone she trusted. The US pop sensation's latest offering was largely penned in response to a personal betrayal that cut deep: a secret friendship breakup with someone who, as Lizzo puts it bluntly, 'secretly hated me'.
The album may have flopped on the charts - selling just 2,649 units in its debut week across the US and UK - but that doesn't change the fact that this is music born from heartache. Critics were initially convinced that 'Bitch' was a direct response to her lawsuit with three former backup dancers, but Lizzo sets the record straight: the emotional core of this album predates that very public legal battle.
Take song 'Like a Crime', for instance - it's an unflinching look at the friend who broke her heart and stole her life. It was one of Lizzo's toughest friendship breakups, involving someone she'd employed and believed in, only to discover they were 'extremely abusive' and had lied about her behind her back.
Lizzo recounts a mind-boggling exchange where this former friend professed concern for her well-being before publicly trashing her online. It's a toxic dynamic that's all too familiar in the entertainment industry - but Lizzo refuses to paint with broad strokes, making it clear this individual is not among the dancers suing her (though they're more than happy to jump on the 'hate train' without any real legal grounds).
It's a stark contrast to the commercial performance of Lizzo's 2022 album, 'Special', which sold over 39,000 copies in its first week and raked in 69,000 album-equivalent units through streams and downloads. That success earned her multiple Grammy Awards - but it seems the UK industry still has some catching up to do when it comes to embracing Lizzo's work on a similar scale.