Lizzo made a statement on Friday, as she began the second leg of her The Special 2our with a show in Knoxville, Tennesse.
Taking to the stage, the Juice hitmaker, 34, brought on a number of drag performers to join her show.
This is despite the state’s drag ban, which forbids ‘adult cabaret entertainment’ on public property or in locations where it could be viewed by a minor.
The law has since been temporarily blocked by a federal judge in the state.
Speaking to Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena, Lizzo said: ‘In light of recent and tragic events and current events, I was told by people on the internet, ‘Cancel your shows in Tennessee,’ ‘Don’t go to Tennessee,”.
Standing up: Lizzo made quite the statement on Friday, as she began the second leg of her The Special 2our with a show in Knoxville, Tennesse
‘Their reason was valid, but why would I not come to the people who need to hear this message the most? The people who need to feel this release the most?
‘Why would I not create a safe space in Tennessee where we can celebrate drag entertainers and celebrate our differences and celebrate fat Black women?’
She also told the crowd: ‘What people in Tennessee are doing is giving hope, so thank you so much for standing up for your rights, protecting each other and holding the people accountable who should be protecting us.’
She emphasised her commitment to performing at Friday’s show.
‘I hope that I can help you in any way because you have helped me so, so much, you don’t even understand,’ Lizzo said to the Knoxville crowd.
Sharing highlights of the show to her Instagram, Lizzo penned: ‘THANK YOU TO THESE BEAUTIFUL DRAG QUEENS FOR SHOWING THEIR PRIDE IN TENNESSE’.
Among the drag performers to come on stage was several who have competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kandy Muse and Vanessa Vanjie.
Commonly known as the Tennessee drag ban, the new law forbids ‘adult cabaret entertainment’ on public property or in locations where it could be viewed by a minor — defining the term as as ‘topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators.’
Statement: Taking to the stage, the Juice hitmaker, 34, brought on a number of drag performers to join her show.
Controversial: This is despite the state’s drag ban, which forbids ‘adult cabaret entertainment’ on public property or in locations where it could be viewed by a minor
It was signed in March by GOP Gov. Bill Lee, but, a federal judge in Tennessee temporarily blocked its implementation, citing First Amendment issues.
The Volunteer State is the first to pass such a law.
Lizzo is no stranger to standing up for what she believes in.
Last week, she hit back at an internet troll who tried to body-shame her, after a nude picture the singer shared to Instagram in 2021 was resurfaced.
Lizzo shared the post, which is an unedited picture without any clothing, as part of a self-esteem social media campaign.
But as it did the rounds across Twitter again, one fan tweeted a picture of herself beside Lizzo’s, attempting to shame her by asking ‘me or Lizzo?’
Appearing to backfire, many fans rallied to support the singer as they simply responded with her name instead of the troll’s.
And it seemed that Lizzo herself was keen to cast her vote, simply tweeting her own name at the same time that the drama was unfolding.
Proud: Sharing highlights of the show to her Instagram, Lizzo penned: ‘THANK YOU TO THESE BEAUTIFUL DRAG QUEENS FOR SHOWING THEIR PRIDE IN TENNESSE’
All-star: Among the drag performers to come on stage was several who have competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kandy Muse, Vanessa Vanjie and others
The picture began to circulate on Twitter again after two years as one user share a snap of an article which said Lizzo was ‘changing the beauty standard’, writing above: ‘Thanks, , but my beauty standards remain unchanged’.
This response spurred on many other trolls to also take a dig at the singer, who has proudly spoken about being plus size.
But it was the comparison tweet that appeared to go viral, with the user placing a picture of herself next to the nude shot and asking who the public preferred.
In a backfire, many took to the reply section to show their support for Lizzo, with one replying: ‘Lizzo any day,’ as another added on: ‘Any and EVERY day’.
‘Lizzo. Gal has talents,’ added a third.
And in a tweet appearing too well-timed to be a coincidence, the hitmaker herself tweeted ‘Lizzo’.
Hilariously, this prompted a slew of brands to tweet their own names out – including the official page for Kikkoman USA, who wrote: ‘Soy Sauce’.
PAC-MAN Official, Minions, Elmo, and Crumbl Cookies were amongst the other brands to hop on the bandwagon.
Backing herself: It comes after Lizzo spoke out last week after an internet troll failed while attempting to body-shame her by sharing this resurfaced nude snap of the singer
