How Beyoncé Helped Lizzo Survive Depression

Lizzo is reflecting on a challenging period in her life and giving credit to Beyoncé for helping her through.

In August 2023, the singer was the subject of a bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit brought by three of her former backup dancers from her “Lizzo’s Big Grrrl” tour. There was also an additional sexual harassment case by her ex-stylist, Asha Daniels.

With most of the damaging claims now dismissed, the “Truth Hurts” songstress opened up about hitting rock bottom due to the drama.

Lizzo got candid about the dark time, admitting the lawsuit plunged her into depression and made her want to “disappear” from the world.

“I got very paranoid and isolated,” the songstress confessed in a new interview. “I used to walk into glam and be like, ‘Oh, let me tell you about this crazy sh-t that happened last night!’ I couldn’t do that anymore.”

The four-time Grammy winner explained that she became closed off, pushing everyone away during the difficult time. “I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore.”

Amid her isolation, Lizzo’s mental health deteriorated so badly that she didn’t consider death a bad option. The 37-year-old who admitted to feeling “tired of living” revealed in the July cover of Women’s Health:

“It got to the point where I was like, ‘I could die.’ I never attempted to kill myself or thought about it, but I did think, if everyone hates you and thinks you’re a terrible person, then what’s the point?”

The damaging lawsuit forced the “Juice” hitmaker to be by herself for a long time. Until she made the decision to leave her home and attend Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour in 2023.

Lizzo said she “felt” nervous about attending the concert because she believed people would “boo me or be like, f-ck you.” However, the complete opposite happened as she was met with love and encouragement. The sweet reception lit up something in the artist.

“It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die. Life is worth living,” Lizzo said. With the show providing a new perspective, she decided to stop the self-pity. In her words:

“That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your -ss in gear and take your f-doing life back.'”

While attending the “Renaissance” tour in 2023, Lizzo received a heartwarming shout-out from her idol, Beyoncé. While Bey performed “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix),” she mentioned Lizzo’s name among other iconic Black women in music, displaying the younger singer’s name on the big screen onstage.

The Detroit native was super touched by the moment and took to Instagram to reflect on it. Alongside a recording of the moment where Lizzo couldn’t stop crying, she wrote, “In that moment I was thinking about baby me, listening to Happy Face by Destiny’s Child and crying myself to sleep because of bullies.”

The caption continued, “I thought about Beyoncé jumping into the room where Tina Turner was waiting to meet her for the first time. I think of what we all mean to people and how cyclical it is.”

Concluding her emotional message, Lizzo explained that she believes everyone is connected before adding, “It’s an honor. Thank you @beyonce.”

While it seems the “Tempo” songstress has successfully navigated the negative emotions, the legal battles are far from over.

Lizzo was first sued by three of her backup dancers for alleged sexual and racial harassment, body shaming, and a hostile work environment. The dancers, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, and Arianna Davis, accused the award-winning star and her touring company of treating “the Black members of the dance team differently than other members.”

The court documents also alleged that the 37-year-old artist forced them to touch nude performers during a visit to the strip club. Lizzo denied all allegations levied against her.

Judge Mark H. Epstein of the Los Angeles County Superior Court has since dismissed some of the claims, including the fat-shaming allegations, and dancers who were forced to be on “hold” despite not being on tour. However, he ruled that the case will still move forward to trial.