Three days after Lizzo announced that she was leaving Twitter, fitness guru Jillian Michaels decided to offer her speculative commentary on Lizzo’s health.
"Yeah I can't do this Twitter s**t no more.. too many trolls… I'll be back when I feel like it," the Grammy-nominated singer told her followers on January 5.
Yeah I can’t do this Twitter shit no more.. too many trolls… ✌????
I’ll be back when I feel like it.— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) January 6, 2020
But Lizzo’s self-imposed silence in response to trolls would be short-lived.
Jillian Michaels, the former host of The Biggest Loser who parlayed her celebrity into a fitness empire, stopped by BuzzFeed News’ Twitter morning show AM to DM last Wednesday. When host Alex Berg expressed her admiration for the "Truth Hurts" artist, saying, “I really love celebrities like Lizzo who are preaching self-acceptance,” Michaels abruptly cut her off.
“Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? ‘Cause it isn’t gonna be awesome if she gets diabetes,” she said.
“I’m just being honest. I love her music, my kid loves her music, but there’s never a moment when I’m like, ‘I’m so glad she’s overweight.’ Why do I even care? Why is it my job to care about her weight?” she added.
.@JillianMichaels on Lizzo: "Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't gonna be awesome if she gets diabetes." pic.twitter.com/FkKBd8J87b— AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM) January 8, 2020
Michaels' commentary was met with immediate backlash.
“Why do people always jump to 'they gonna get diabetes'?!? Thin people have diabetes too. Just saying,” one Twitter user wrote.
Why do people always jump to “they gonna get diabetes”?!? Thin people have diabetes too. Just saying… pic.twitter.com/0hSQXt3dAO— Erika with a “K” (@ImperfectMz) January 8, 2020
“After all the extreme dieting nightmare stories about old Biggest Loser contests wrecking their bodies and metabolism for that show,” said one user while considering the history of the show Michaels became famous for.
– after all the extreme dieting nightmare stories about old Biggest Loser contests wrecking their bodies and metabolism for that show pic.twitter.com/3Fkn0YGcnB— Liz Jenkins (@ej11lizzie) January 8, 2020
Some questioned why Lizzo’s body was a topic of conversation in the first place.
“There is absolutely no instance in which it is appropriate for anybody to be asked to opine on Lizzo’s body or the body of anybody else. There was absolutely no reason for Lizzo’s name to come out of anybody’s mouth during the segment,” said one user.
There is absolutely no instance in which it is appropriate for anybody to be asked to opine on Lizzo’s body or the body of anybody else. There was absolutely no reason for Lizzo’s name to come out of anybody’s mouth during the segment.— Mx. Amadi (@amaditalks) January 8, 2020
Though Lizzo hasn’t returned to Twitter, she did jump on Instagram to give a poignant message which appeared to be directed at Michaels while looking glamorous.
"If my name is in your mouth, so is my p***y, b***h. Enjoy the flavor," she said in the short clip before winking.
And it appears Lizzo's clapback didn't end there.
On Saturday, she posted a clip of what appears to be a show staple of her dancing to the Baltimore club song "Watch Out For The Big Girl" during one of her concerts, as Blavity previously reported.
Accompanying the post was a caption that read, "WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG GRRRL B***H – I DO THIS EVERY NIGHT – DON'T PLAY W/ ME HOE ????????."
For her part, Michaels released a statement which basically equated to “sorry, not sorry.”
“As I’ve stated repeatedly, we are all beautiful, worthy, and equally deserving,” Michaels wrote. “I also feel strongly that we love ourselves enough to acknowledge that there are serious health consequences that come with obesity – heart disease, diabetes, cancer to name only a few. I would never wish these for ANYONE and I would hope we prioritize our health because we LOVE ourselves and our bodies.”
pic.twitter.com/tQQletU1fO— Jillian Michaels (@JillianMichaels) January 9, 2020
This isn't the first time Lizzo's health has been publicly questioned by someone other than her personal medical professional. In December, Dr. Boyce Watkins took it upon himself to claim an obesity epidemic, and not Lizzo's talent, was the reason for her fame.
"#Lizzo popular is 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, " the cultural critique suggested.
Of course, Lizzo gave some ideas as to why she's popular.
"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 chart-topping musician retorted. "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 ????."
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 ???? https://t.co/zXnOv4f9Dr
— Feelin Good As Hell (@lizzo) December 23, 2019
Looks like it's in everyone's best interest to remember being quiet is free.