Lizzo released her fifth studio album, “B-TCH,” in June 2026. Prior to the release, the Grammy-winning songstress on her label, Atlantic Records, called failing to promote her new music. Now the album is out, but it failed to chart on the Billboard charts, and Lizzo has remained silent since, only addressing the success of her previous music.
This has led many on social media to believe that she not only wants to move on from the failure, but also to deflect.
Lizzo released “B-TCH” to decent reviews on June 5. She promoted the project with social media content, album signings and television interviews. But despite what would be considered a similar marketing campaign to other high-profile pop stars, the album failed to connect with listeners.
According to Stereo chewing gumthe album missed the coveted Billboard top 200, which includes the best-selling albums in a given week. By most estimates, “B-TCH” sold fewer than 6,000 units in its first week, a number well below her major label record.
By comparison, her most recent studio album, 2021’s “Special,” sold 69,000 album-equivalent units, including 39,000 traditional albums sold.
Lizzo has stopped encouraging fans to listen to the album
Since the release of “B-TCH”, Lizzo has made several posts on social media. One came on June 15, which coincided with when many fans learned that the album was in danger of missing the Billboard Top 200. She published on X”I’m bored.. Let’s stream ‘About Damn Time’ so it can hit a billion.”
That same day, she took to social media to highlight that her song, “Truth Hurts,” was certified diamond, meaning it has sold 10 million or more equivalent units. On TikTokshe posted two videos of herself lip-syncing to the hit song.
Fans question why the change in focus
First week album sales are important for any artist as this is typically when a new project performs best. However, a performer with a social media like Lizzo’s can always find creative ways to introduce it to fans. Because of this, many are questioning why she seems to be ignoring the project in recent days.
In response to her post about being bored, one person on X said: “Why not ask people to stream your new album?” Another social media user commented: “Already gave up on that flop album after seeing the numbers huh? Another wrote: “So your brand new project is rubbish now huh?”
Then another person asked: “Bored?? with a brand new album out??? Why are you ignoring it now Lizzie?” Then another fan responded: “You over your new album? What do you mean you’re bored? All that influence chasing 16 sales?”
In response to her announcement that “Truth Hurts” was certified diamond, someone said: “Hold those numbers really close to your chest, will you?”
Finally, one person in support of Lizzo wrote on X: “There’s nothing wrong with this. I’m not a fan of her music, but I recognize success. Also, I respect her for working to get healthier. She did it the right way.”
Lizzo has previously opened up about calling her album ‘B-TCH’
Many have questioned Lizzo’s decision to give her album a title that many publications choose to censor, arguing that it may lead to fewer people gravitating toward it. In many interviews, she has stated that she chose the title because “b-tch” is her favorite word. However, she shed more light recently.
When addressing the album itself with USA todayshe stated, “I don’t think I need to redefine myself. I think this is about reclaiming who I am. A lot of my identity has been manipulated by people outside of me, so this album is me taking it back – showing the Lizzo everyone knows and loves, letting her tell her side of the story and just letting her play again.”
As for where the title came from, Lizzo revealed, “There’s this Katt Williams joke he made about me where he said, ‘They’re coming for somebody. They’re coming for Lizzo, and she’s unproblematic, but it just goes to show you can be fat, you can be black, but you can’t be fat, Black B-tch.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s right.'”
She continued, “God forbid you have a bad day or God forbid you weren’t rainbows and sunshine one day. You will be crucified, especially as a black woman in this industry and in society.”
Lizzo recently responded to Nicki Minaj
The night of her album’s release, Lizzo took to social media to vent Nicki Minaj. According to Complexshe did so by reposting a tweet from the rapper that said, “Fat Lizzo lost 300 lbs just to sell 300 albums. So now she has loose skin AND a flop album AND a weird load. Sheesh.”
The singer captioned the post “Since I’m blocked…” and also included a video of a new version of her song, “B-TCH,” addressing rapper “Super Bass.” In one line from the remix, Lizzo can be heard saying, “Used to be the biggest fan and I lost my weight / Wait, wait. Let me fix.”
This has led many of Minaj’s fans to celebrate the album’s failure, claiming that she only made the post to generate excitement.
Leave a Reply