Video for Good Winner Lizzo Responds to Body Shamers in VMAs Speech

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Since the beginning of her career, Lizzo has constantly been advocating for self-love and body positivity.

“I think I have a really hot body! I’m a body icon, and I’m embracing that more and more every day,” the 34-year-old singer said in an interview with People in March.

Lizzo has been using her platform to end stigmas surrounding the plus-size community. And at the recently concluded Video Music Awards, Lizzo sent a message to her body shamers.

Lizzo delivers a message for her haters during her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards 2022 on August 29, 2022Lizzo delivers a message for her haters during her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards 2022 on August 29, 2022 (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INS / Cover Images)

While accepting her Moon Person trophy for Video for Good, the About Damn Time hitmaker thanked director Christian Breslauer and her fans for “supporting and loving” her before addressing her haters.

“And now, for the b*tches that got something to say about me in the press,” she said. “You know what? I’m not going to say nothing. They be like, ‘Lizzo why don’t you clap back? Why don’t you clap back?’”

“’Cause b*tch, I’m winning, hoe! Big b*tch is winning, ho! Best revenge is your paper, b*tch!” she continued.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating)

She later shared a clip of her speech to her Twitter followers, captioned: “KEEP MY NAME IN YOU MOUF CUS I KNOW IT TASTE GOOD BITCH”

A few hours after calling out the “b*tches that got something to say about me,” Lizzo took to Twitter to clarify her comment.

“Lemme make one thing VERY clear—I wasn’t addressing anybody in my speech last night.. I was addressing EVERYBODY”

Lizzo tweeted to clarify her Video Music Awards speechLizzo tweeted to clarify her Video Music Awards speech

Radiating body confidence, Lizzo collected her award in a dramatic black mesh gown by Jean Paul Gaultier.

She commanded attention in the Fall 2022 dress designed by Olivier Rousteing for the French fashion house. It features a structured silhouette with skin-baring mesh paneling.

It also boasts a conical bra top, a quilted design, mesh stripes along the sleeves and skirt, and an inverted U-shaped opening, showcasing her Roger Vivier “City” slingback pumps.

Lizzo looks confident as she shows off her voluptuous curves in a Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2022 black mesh gownLizzo looks confident as she shows off her voluptuous curves in a Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2022 black mesh gown (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INS / Cover Images)

Styled by Brett Alan Nelson, Lizzo accessorized with silver hoop earrings, a Yun Yun Sun ear cuff, and a nose ring chain, similar to what Kim Kardashian and North West wore last month.

She parted her tresses to one side and continued with the dark glamour theme of her look by wearing heavy smokey eye makeup and nude lipstick.

Lizzo adds punk element to her look with a nose chain ring and smokey eye-makeupLizzo adds punk element to her look with a nose chain ring and smokey eye makeup (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INS / Cover Images)

Lizzo’s Barbiecore Performance Outfit

As one of the event’s main performances, Lizzo set the stage on fire as she belted out her hits About Damn Time and 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) off her fourth studio album, Special.

With the help of Brett Alan Nelson, the Yitty shapewear founder wore a custom bubblegum pink latex outfit by Rey Ortiz, featuring a crisscross top with a boob window, mesh-paneled sleeves, and a ruched hem.

She teamed the revealing form-fitting top with matching leggings that also have the same mesh paneling along the front.

Lizzo embraces Barbiecore as she belts out About Damn Time and 2 Be LovedLizzo embraces Barbiecore as she belts out About Damn Time and 2 Be Loved (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INS / Cover Images)

Continuing with the Barbiecore pink theme of her look, Lizzo accessorized with rectangular pink Swarovski earrings. She then slipped her feet into a pair of Steve Madden pink combat boots with thick buckled straps, lace-up straps, and chunky platforms.

Hairstylist Shelby Swain pulled Lizzo’s crimped hair into a high ponytail while makeup artist Alexx Mayo drew attention to her eyes with bubble gum machine-inspired eye-makeup.

Lizzo wears a bubblegum pink outfit by Rey Ortiz for her performanceLizzo wears a bubblegum pink outfit by Rey Ortiz for her performance (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INS / Cover Images)

Lizzo’s Gothic-Glam Red Carpet Arrival

Ahead of her performance, Lizzo got heads turning as she arrived on the red carpet in a voluminous iridescent navy gown designed by Glenn Martens for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2022 Couture collection.

It has an off-the-shoulder neckline and features a supersized silhouette with a gathered, draped effect.

Lizzo arrives on the red carpet in a voluminous iridescent navy gown by Glenn Martens for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2022 Couture collectionLizzo arrives on the red carpet in a voluminous iridescent navy gown by Glenn Martens for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring/Summer 2022 Couture collection (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

Her stylist Nelson called the gown a “major risk” and revealed he’s been “drooling over [it] since it showed [in January].”

He told The Hollywood Reporter: “It was a major risk, because both Lizzo and I knew, with the trolls of the internet, the look could be judged in a bad light. But neither of us cared, because it was couture, baby, off the runway.”

“I love for the absurdity of fashion, and that is what we gave: grunge and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll, but glam, glam, glam.”

Lizzo pairs her supersized gown with black mesh opera glovesLizzo pairs her supersized gown with black mesh opera gloves (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Cover Images)

Lizzo paired the look with black sheer mesh gloves by Lael Osness and boots by New Rock.

Adding some bling to her red-carpet outfit, the 2019 TIME Entertainer of the Year accessorized with a lip ring and stacks of Jennifer Fisher gold hoop earrings.

Lizzo adds bling to the look with a lip ring and an array of Jennifer Fisher gold hoop earringsLizzo adds bling to the look with a lip ring and an array of Jennifer Fisher gold hoop earrings (Credit: Doug Peters / EMPICS / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

Makeup artist Alexx Mayo used Charlotte Tilbury makeup on Lizzo, with smokey eyeshadow and matte navy lipstick accented with a gold lip ring.

To complete her goth glam look, hairstylist Shelby Swain created a slicked-back wet-look hairstyle.

Lizzo finishes off her gothic-glam look with slicked-back wet-look hairstyle and cerulean lipstickLizzo finishes off her gothic-glam look with a slicked-back wet-look hairstyle and cerulean lipstick (Credit: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Cover Images)

Comedian Aries Spears’ Body-Shaming Comments on Lizzo

Lizzo’s VMAs appearance came days after comedian Aries Spears made ruthless fat-shaming remarks about the singer during an interview with the Art of Dialogue.

“I can’t get past the fact that she looks like the sh*t emoji,” he said. He went on with his personal jabs at Lizzo, saying: “She’s got a very pretty face, but she keeps showing her body off like, come on, man. Come on, yo.”

Comedian Aries Spears ruthlessly makes fat-shaming remarks on LizzoComedian Aries Spears ruthlessly makes fat-shaming remarks on Lizzo (Credit: William T. Wade Jr / Startraksphoto)

“I’m sorry. Listen, I ain’t the most in-shape ni**a in the world but I still, when you funny and you got swagger and confidence and you decent looking, I think I’m at least handsome—you get pu**y. But a woman that’s built like a plate of mashed potatoes is in trouble.”

He also called out women who support Lizzo. “You know what kills me about women is the hypocrisy and the contradiction.”

“F*ck diabetes, f*ck heart problems, f*ck heart disease, cholesterol. Y’all claim womanhood and about sisterhood and support for your sister, you know, when it comes to that ridiculous sh*t. But if you really gave a f*ck, why wouldn’t you go, ‘Black girl, we love your confidence, boo boo, but this ain’t it. This ain’t it.’”

“That’s real love! Y’all jump on me for making jokes, but y’all won’t be f*cking real and go, ‘Sister, put the éclair down. This ain’t it. It’s treadmill time.’”