Lizzo reveals her intense battle with depression and suicidal thoughts following the 2023 lawsuit filed by former dancers. Discover how the singer turned isolation and emotional pain into a journey of healing, therapy, Pilates, and renewed self-love.
Lizzo Reveals Her Struggle With Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Emotional Journey That Changed Her Life
Lizzo is opening up about one of the most painful chapters of her life, sharing a deeply personal account of how her mental health deteriorated during the lawsuit filed by her former dancers—and how that darkness pushed her toward an unexpected path of healing. In a candid Substack post published on November 23, the 37-year-old singer described a period marked by isolation, betrayal, and emotional collapse that led her to confront feelings she had never experienced so intensely before.
According to Lizzo, her weight loss in late 2023 was not the result of a fitness goal, diet plan, or body-image shift—it was a physical sign of how deeply she was suffering. “I was severely depressed,” she wrote, explaining that the legal accusations and online backlash made her feel as if “the whole world turned its back” on her. She said the scandal left her feeling hopeless and pushed her to the brink of suicidal thoughts.
A Severe Breakdown Fueled by Betrayal
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Lizzo’s account is the sense of betrayal she felt from people she once trusted. As the allegations made headlines, individuals she had known for years—some she believed she parted with on good terms—began speaking out publicly in ways she described as hurtful and fabricated.
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“I cut off all my loved ones,” she admitted. “I couldn’t trust anyone. People I had been neutral or pleasant with suddenly started making things up about me.” The fallout left her truly alone, and even though the lawsuit was eventually dismissed in 2024, the emotional damage lingered long after the legal battle ended.
In her isolation, Lizzo described slipping into habits of self-neglect. Normally, during stressful times, she said she would turn to food for comfort. But her depression became so overwhelming that she stopped caring even about that coping mechanism. She stopped caring about her body entirely. “I began to rot,” she wrote bluntly, describing the emptiness she felt as someone known publicly for championing self-love.
Choosing Healing When Everything Felt Lost
Eventually, Lizzo reached a turning point. Instead of allowing the emotional numbness to consume her, she made a conscious choice to reclaim some control, starting with small acts of movement. She turned to Pilates—something she said felt manageable during a time when her motivation was at its lowest.
What surprised her, she said, was how the physical practice helped her recognize the emotional weight she had been carrying for years. Through therapy and reflection, Lizzo began to understand that her body had become a storage place for unresolved trauma.
She explained that her weight symbolized more than eating habits or genetics—it held memories, grief, and unspoken pain. “It was my protective shield… even a superhero suit,” she wrote.
The more she talked with therapists, the more she uncovered the emotional burdens behind her physical ones. She realized she had been holding onto heartbreak since her father’s death in 2009. She acknowledged that she had weathered toxic relationships going back to 2011. She had also carried the pressure of financially supporting loved ones for nearly a decade.
Letting go of all of that, she shared, became her true goal—not the number on a scale. “I wanted to release myself,” she wrote. “I wanted to let it all go.”
Staying True to Her Identity While the Industry Shifts
Lizzo also used her essay to reflect on the evolving landscape of body positivity. She expressed concern over the shrinking visibility of plus-size women in fashion and entertainment, noting that extended clothing sizes are disappearing from brand websites and plus-size models are no longer being hired as openly as before.
Despite her personal weight changes, Lizzo emphasized that she remains—and proudly identifies as—a plus-size woman. “I am still a proud big girl,” she wrote. “Objectively big. Over 200 pounds. And I love myself the same no matter what the scale says.”
Her message pushed back against the assumption that weight loss equals self-rejection. Instead, she framed her journey as emotional healing—not a departure from the movement she has long supported.
Rebuilding Her Relationship With the Community She Inspired
Lizzo acknowledged that some supporters of the body positivity movement felt disappointed or confused during the controversy. She said she is committed to rebuilding their trust and returning to the values she has always fought for—self-acceptance, representation, and empowerment.
“I have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of the movement that gave me wings,” she wrote. “It’s work I am willing and ready to do.”
A Message of Strength, Healing, and Survival
Lizzo’s essay is more than a response to a lawsuit—it is a raw testimony about mental health, resilience, and rediscovering self-worth. Her story is a reminder that even the most confident and powerful public figures can face invisible battles. And in sharing her darkest struggles, she opens the door for others to speak about their own.
As she continues her healing journey, Lizzo’s message remains rooted in compassion: growth is messy, healing is ongoing, and loving yourself sometimes requires fighting through the moments when you feel most broken.
