*While performing at a benefit concert at the Sydney Opera House in Australia this week, Lizzo explained her sudden departure from Twitter.
We previously reported, Lizzo quit the platform after complaining about the “trolls” harassing her.
“Yeah I can’t do this Twitter s**t no more.. too many troll,” she tweeted on Sunday. “I’ll be back when I feel like it.”
Many fans speculated that she quit social media after catching heat from folks who co-signed the critical comments of Dr. Boyce Watkins.
Watkins believes Lizzo is popular because she represents the obesity epidemic in America. On Dec. 20, he wrote: “#Lizzo popular is because there is an obesity epidemic in America. Rather than encouraging people to do better, we are simply lying to them and telling them that they are just fine the way they are. Unfortunately, Many of these people are dying from diabetes and heart disease.”
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He later defended his comments in a Youtube live video, saying: “Lizzo is a pretty big Black woman. I would say she is obese – morbidly obese – and she brags about it. So it’s not an insult to say that she is obese.”
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Was a bit nervous to post this photo, but my girl @lizzo has motivated me in numerous ways to celebrate who I am and to love the way God created me. A few of my followers wanted to see so here’s the photo❤️ pic.twitter.com/9oJJyy0veg
— M. (@Kelia_KeliaC) January 5, 2020
During the benefit concert to raise money to combat the bushfires in Australia, Lizzo explained the real reason she’s taking a Twitter break.
“I just want you to know that I, you know, I just took a DNA test and it turns out I quit Twitter. I quit Twitter. I’m off it. All social media is not created equal,” she said.
“I would love to be on Twitter ’cause I could connect with you people who positively support me not to mention spreading my own positive messages,” Lizzo added.
“I can deal with internet bullies… but when I see how, not just insensitive, but hateful and hurtful we are towards each other. When I just log on every day and see something devastating and something tragic every single day. Even from my well of positivity, I feel it and it doesn’t feel good.”
She also explained that she worries about fans who can’t handle bullying.
“Social media isn’t helping, Twitter isn’t helping. And I feel good. But I just wanted to say that. If you ever need to take a break from this s—, take a break from it. And breathe. … And if you feel negative, allow that feeling to happen and balance that s— out,” the singer concluded.
Lizzo has been performing all across Australia to help increase awareness about the country’s brushfire crisis, which has claimed the lives of at least 17 people and scorched 11 million acres since it was sparked by alleged arsonists in September. 24 suspects have reportedly been arrested.
