Lizzo Addresses Criticism She Makes Music for White People: 'I Am Making Music From My Black Experience'
etonline.comLizzo regularly faces criticism targeting her body, sense of style and everything else under the sun, but the perception that disturbs her «the most» is that she makes music for a white audience.
In a new cover story for, the «About Damn Time» singer addressed the oft-repeated judgment that her music is somehow geared toward white listeners, noting that it's «such a critical conversation when it comes to Black artists.»«When Black people see a lot of white people in the audience, they think, 'Well this isn't for me, this is for them.' The thing is, when a Black artist reaches a certain level of popularity, it's going to be a predominantly white crowd,» she explains. «I was so startled when I watched [YouTube clips of gospel great] Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was an innovator of rock and roll.
She was like 'I'm going to take gospel and shred guitar,' and when they turned the camera around, it was a completely white audience.» The singer pointed out several other Black icons who similarly played to predominantly white audiences including Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé and modern rappers.«I am not making music for white people.
I am a Black woman, I am making music from my Black experience, for me to heal myself [from] the experience we call life,» she says, adding that it's a bonus when her music helps other Black people. «Because we are the most marginalized and neglected people in this country.
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