It has been announced that US pop star Lizzo has said that she is quitting because she is fed up with being targeted for her looks and character online.
In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "I'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it."
She did not clarify if this meant she was leaving the music industry or social media. "I'm getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet," Lizzo wrote.
Her post comes a day after a lawyer representing her former dancers criticised the decision to choose the pop star to headline a fundraising event amid accusations made against her last year. The dancers' allegations included sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, which Lizzo has denied.
"All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it," Lizzo wrote in her social media post.
The singer, 35, said that she was constantly up against lies, which she said were being told about her for "clout & views". She added that she felt she was the butt of the joke every single time, because of how she looks, and her character was being picked apart by people who don't know her.
"I didn't sign up for this," she concluded. "I quit."
Stars were quick to show their support for Lizzo. Commenting on her post, reality TV star and entrepreneur Paris Hilton wrote: "We love you queen."
Destiny's Child singer LeToya Luckett added: "You are deeply loved."
Lizzo is known for celebrating her body and self-love but has also spoken out in the past about hurtful online comments about her looks. Last year, she said that she had received a new wave of body-shaming comments on X, formerly Twitter, that included speculation about her diet and whether she eats a lot of fast food.
"Y'all don't know how close I be to giving up on everyone and quitting," she wrote at the time.
Last August, three of her former dancers sued Lizzo over claims including sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez are the former dancers bringing the case against the singer, her dance captain and her production company.
The legal action includes accusations of sexual, religious and racial harassment, discrimination, assault and false imprisonment. Lizzo is also accused of fat-shaming Ms Davis on tour.
The singer claimed the allegations to being "false and as unbelievable as they sound". Lizzo was last seen when she performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York for a fundraiser for US President Joe Biden.
Lawyer Ron Zambrano, who represents the three former dancers, reportedly said: "It's shameful that Lizzo would be chosen to headline an event like this amid such egregious allegations."
