Lizzo has responded to a recent episode of South Park that parodied her as part of a wider send-up of alleged weight loss drug, Ozempic. The episode, titled ‘The End of Obesity’, contains a sketch in which Eric Cartman is prescribed ‘Lizzo’ as a body positivity guru when he cannot afford the fictional drug. The sketch has not gone unnoticed by the real-life Lizzo, who is known for her commitment to the same message and has long been a vocal advocate of body positivity. She has now posted a video in which she watches the sketch for the first time, as it plays in real-time with her reactions.
“Guys, my worst fear has been actualised,” she begins by saying. “I’ve been referenced in a South Park episode,” she adds with a laugh. As the scene plays out, Lizzo clasps her mouth in shock, exclaiming “that’s crazy!” when the ‘Lizzo’ drug is revealed. The singer later reflected on the episode: “I’m really that bitch and I show you all how to not give a fuck and I’ma keep showing you how to not give a fuck,” before singing the jingle from the sketch.
The South Park episode has been the subject of criticism, with many social media users criticising the animated series for perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Some commentators raised questions concerning the use of Lizzo’s likeness, given her commitment to body positivity, and argued that the episode effectively undermined her message by using her name as a punchline. The backlash is the latest example of the fraught relationship between artists, online fandoms and popular media. Advocates of greater sensitivity to potential damage to the reputations or mental health of celebrities have been increasingly vocal in recent times, with the South Park episode potentially providing an example of the kind of media content that will face greater scrutiny in the future.
Meanwhile, Lizzo has been working to raise awareness of causes she supports, including college protests in the US, and political and humanitarian crises in Sudan, Palestine and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reflecting on recent global activism, Lizzo recently pledged her support to organisers: “I just want to take a second and give a personal thank you to all of the activists who have been working tirelessly to help the liberation and the freedom of the people who have been genocided all over the world. As someone who has worked closely with activists, I know the toll it can take on your mental and your physical and it can feel thankless so if you have not heard it today, thank you. Your work is not in vain. You have helped so many people, you have saved literal lives and, on a personal note, you have activated me.”
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