We all have that one cousin who has a little too much to sip and forgets that the cookout is actually... a family function. I am that one cousin. That one cousin is me, and apparently, our good sis Lizzo can totally relate.
Yesterday, for Easter, Diddy hosted a virtual Dance-A-Thon, which has since raised more than $3.7 million for Coronavirus relief efforts that featured celebrity guests like Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, and of course, his fine ass sons, but things got especially real when Lizzo joined the Instagram Live session and turned the function all the way up.
While partaking in a virtual dance party with the Combs clan, Lizzo gave IG a twerk session that Meg Thee Stallion's knees would be proud of, but she was shut down expeditiously by Diddy, who said:
"Let's play something a little bit family-friendly."
While Diddy claimed that his actions as the Twerk Police were warranted because it was "Easter Sunday", when Draya Michele was later seen giving us our entire lives in her own rendition of "Back That Azz Up", onlookers noted that the Basketball Wives star was treated much differently than Lizzo. Some Black Twitter users even suggested that the iconic producer's intentions were biased and fat-phobic. One user wrote on Twitter:
"Lizzo started twerking on Diddy's IG live & Diddy talking bout stop its Easter Sunday but Draya twerks on that same live & there are no issues. Y'all can't even hide yall disdain for fat women & I hate it."
After receiving widespread backlash, Diddy clarified that he cut Lizzo off mid-twerk due to the song's profanity, not her actions. He explained:
"There's one thing that I wanna make clear. My queen, my sister, Lizzo, when I stopped the music, it's because it had a lot of curses in there. Not because she was twerking. She's one of the best twerkers in the world, okay? So let's keep that clear. It wasn't about twerking. You're allowed to twerk on Easter. There was a lot of cursing on the record and I don't need child services knocking on my door right now, you understand?"
Despite Diddy making it a point to clarify his intentions, that didn't stop body-shaming and fat-phobia from running rampant on social media. But not on our watch.
Lizzo is a national treasure that should be protected at all costs, so here are 10 pictures that remind us why our good sis will forever have the juice.
Featured image by Instagram/@lizzobeeating.
With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
