Lizzo's New Album Struggles as Old Backup-Dancer Controversy Shadows Comeback

Caption: Lizzo performing at Boston Calling in 2016. Credit: digboston / Andy Moran, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Lizzo’s fifth studio album debuted to the weakest commercial numbers of her major-label career this month, landing three years after a lawsuit from former backup dancers that the singer is still fighting in court.

What You Should Know

The album, “Bitch,” sold 2,649 copies in its first week, according to Luminate data reported by Entertainment Weekly, missing the Billboard 200 chart entirely and landing at No. 46 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. Sales fell further to roughly 650 copies in the second week. Her 2022 album, “Special,” had debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with about 69,000 equivalent units.

The Public Image Problem

The release lands against the backdrop of a 2023 lawsuit from three former backup dancers alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, including claims tied to a visit to Amsterdam’s Red Light District and a grueling overnight re-audition. A judge dismissed some claims, including a fat-shaming allegation, earlier in 2026, but the core case remains active and headed toward trial.

The Receipts

Lizzo told CBS Mornings last month she would rather take the case to trial than settle. “I’m not afraid of the truth,” she said. “The truth is less salacious than the headlines.” A former record label executive told Rolling Stone, as cited by the Washington Times, that the litigation has compounded damage to a public image built partly on a self-confident, body-positive brand.

What Happens Next

With the lawsuit still moving toward trial, Lizzo’s commercial comeback and her legal fight are likely to continue shaping each other in the public eye. Music industry observers told Rolling Stone they do not consider her career over, but say the next moves will matter.

References: Washington Times