Lizzo and Adele made headlines Monday for their weight – but for different reasons.
Lizzo took to Twitter to clap back at social commentator Dr. Boyce Watkins after days of being taunted about her weight and appearance.
On Dec. 20, Watkins opined on Twitter that the “Truth Hurts” singer is popular “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.”
In follow-up tweets, Watkins referred to Lizzo as “Tiffany Fattish” and compared her to fictional pancake icon Aunt Jemima.
Following Lizzo’s performance on SNL, Watkins tweeted: “Watching #Lizzo dressed in all Gucci on SNL singing about the joys of being fat and raunchy makes me think of slaves performing for massa and his friends on the plantation. ‘We are here to serve you in every way imaginable. Just keep bringing dem biscuits.’”
Lizzo fired back: “I’m popular because I write good songs and I’m talented and perform high energy hour and a half shows filled with love. The only person who needs to do better is you. Keep my name out ya mouth & look in the mirror before you come for me. Here’s the attention you ordered.”
Watkins responded by posting a graph showing the rising rate of obesity in the U.S.
“Why #Lizzo is popular: We take toxic, deadly, dysfunction and make it cool,” he tweeted. “All of us are worthy of love, but we should not encourage our people to be unhealthy.”
Lizzo seemed to react on her Twitter with a yawning face emoji.
Meanwhile, a few people fired back at media outlets and social media commentators who were making a big deal about Adele’s apparent weight loss.
The 31-year-old singer, posted a photo showing her in a gown next to someone in a Grinch costume. “We both tried to ruin Christmas but then both our hearts grew!” she captioned the pic … Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone x.”
Headlines included “Adele shows off weight loss in sexy gown at Christmas party” (New York Post) and “Adele Shows Off Incredible Weight Loss in Festive New Holiday Photos” (Life & Style).
“Adele has always been gorgeous,” tweeted writer Roxane Gay. “Y’all tell on yourselves by thinking she somehow looks better now.”
Actress Jameela Jamil tweeted: "Adele was beautiful before. Is beautiful now. Will be beautiful WHATEVERTHEF**K weight she will be in the future. The weight of a global icon trending is a sign there is still work to do in how we value women in 2020. Being thinner doesn’t add to her value.”