During her intimate Lizzo In Real Life concert in Los Angeles, the Grammy-winning superstar opened up about how her new song, Love in Real Life, was born from a harrowing battle with depression.
Lizzo played her first public concert since facing explosive lawsuits from former dancers on Wednesday night at the Wiltern in Los Angeles to support the release of her upcoming album, “Lizzo in Real Life.”
In a tearful, unfiltered moment onstage, she revealed that the album’s inspiration came from a period of profound despair.
“About a year and a half ago, I was in such a dark, deep depression… “I was so heartbroken by the world and so deeply hurt that I didn’t want to live anymore, and I was so deeply afraid of people that I didn’t want to be seen.”
The “Truth Hurts” singer, known for her unshakable confidence and body-positive anthems, described how isolation and emotional pain nearly consumed her—until a simple act of kindness changed everything.
“Eventually, I got over that fear. I went to a concert, kind of like this… and as I was walking through the crowds, something miraculous happened: someone I didn’t know looked at me and said, ‘Lizzo, I love you.'”
“And then it was 10 people, and then it was 100 people… showering me with love and support… It was f*cking lifesaving.”
Lizzo expressed that the affection from her fans “in real life” motivated her to keep going and inspired the name of her new album.
“After that, I was like, ‘Damn, you can’t get this shit on the internet, bro. This is the kind of love you only get in real life.'”
Love in Real Life marks Lizzo’s first solo release since her contribution to the Barbie soundtrack in 2023. The song was released on Friday (Feb. 28) along with a visually striking video that serves as a metaphor for her personal journey. After an eventful night out, Lizzo ended up in a difficult situation with her backup dancers on an unfamiliar street, but eventually, everyone came together for some synchronized dance moves.
The concert doubled as a cathartic release for Lizzo, who has faced intense scrutiny since August 2023, when three former dancers sued her for alleged sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment—claims she has vehemently denied as “false” and “sensationalized.”
