Lizzo on criticism of her body transformation: ‘My brand is joy’

The Grammy winner says she was surprised by claims that losing weight undermined the image she had built throughout her career.

Lizzo says she was healthy at her highest weight, even though joint and back pain eventually made performing more difficult.

The Grammy-winning singer discussed her physical transformation during an October 7 appearance on “The Jason Lee Show,” revisiting a journey that previously prompted her to explain how she lost weight and why she chose to exercise for mental health rather than focus entirely on her appearance.

During the interview, the 38-year-old said she considered herself extremely healthy at her highest weight. She described her blood as healthy but acknowledged that physical discomfort had begun affecting her daily life and career.

As she gained weight, Lizzo experienced joint pain and back problems that made performing increasingly uncomfortable. Those difficulties influenced her decision to begin changing her lifestyle.

The singer was also surprised by criticism suggesting her smaller appearance was damaging the image she had built throughout her career.

Some reactions left her wondering whether people had associated her entire identity with being a plus-sized woman.

“What I had to realize is my brand is joy,” she explained, pushing back against the idea that her weight was responsible for her success.

Lizzo said the happiness and confidence that attracted audiences to her music had always been part of who she was. Changing her body did not mean abandoning those qualities.

Her intentional weight-release journey began in 2023. In a November 2025 personal essay, she revealed that she began exercising while experiencing severe depression and also incorporated Pilates and therapy into her life.

She has since spoken about the pressures surrounding women’s bodies, including changing beauty standards and the popularity of weight-loss medications.

The singer maintains that her appearance should not determine how people understand her music or the message she shares with fans.

She also said supportive messages from listeners who credit her music with helping them through difficult experiences mean more to her than negative comments about her body.

For Lizzo, getting smaller has not changed the joy she wants people to associate with her.