Lizzo is going through a “grind year”.
The ‘Good as Hell’ hitmaker sparked speculation she was taking a break from music just two months ago when she proclaimed she was on a “gap year” while vacationing in Bali, but she’s now insisted she’s been working very hard behind-the-scenes.
Appearing at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit earlier this week, Lizzo was asked about her extended break.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, she replied: “‘Gap year’? Girl, who said ‘gap year’? I launched my company Yitty in 2022 at the same time as my album, ‘Special’…
“As soon as I stepped down home from tour — I may not be as public-facing — but I went straight to Yitty headquarters, and I’ve just been working, working, working. You may not see me, but I’ve been working. This ain’t a gap year, it’s a grind year.”
The 36-year-old star – who hasn’t released an album since 2022’s ‘Special’ – had declared she needed time out to “protect [her] peace” back in August.
Alongside a video post on Instagram, Lizzo wrote: “I’m taking a gap year and protecting my peace [prayer emoji] (sic)”
In the video, Lizzo was stood outside on a balcony wearing a swimsuit as rain poured on her head.
But just two weeks later, the ‘Truth Hurts’ singer teased she was working on a new album as she shared a video of herself in a skimpy red swimsuit.
She captioned the Instagram post: “I wasn’t gonna post this on IG but 2021 me would be soooo proud of 2024 me.
“And I’m NOT only talking about my body if yall only KNEWWWW what I’ve done for my mental and emotional health in the last year… wheeeew don’t worry imma write a album about it. (sic)”
Earlier this year, she seemingly announced her exit from the music business after growing tired of “being the butt of the joke”.
She wrote on Instagram in March: “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet.
“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.
“I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout and views … being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look.
“My character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name. I didn’t sign up for this s***. (sic)”
However, Lizzo later clarified that she wasn’t quitting the music industry.
She said: “I quit giving any negative energy attention. What I’m not gonna quit, is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting the people, ’cause I know I’m not alone.”