Lizzo's Album 'Bitch' Fails to Chart, But She's Not Backing Down

Just a few years ago, Lizzo was on top of the world. She dominated the charts, won multiple Grammys, and sold out arenas. But her latest album, Bitch, released on June 5, 2026, has failed to make any significant impact. In its first week, the album sold only 2,649 copies and garnered less than 2.7 million streams. By the second week, sales plummeted to 650 copies, and streaming dropped below a million. These figures, reported by Rolling Stone, prompted a deep dive into what went wrong, with record executives offering various theories.

Lizzo, however, is not taking the criticism lying down. In a TikTok video posted on Wednesday, she shared a clip of herself dancing to one of her new songs, beaming and captioning it: “Imagine thinking I ‘crashed out’ and I’m at home just…” The video was a clear defiance of the narrative that her career is in decline. But the response from the public has been mixed, with some criticizing her for being out of touch and others defending her right to enjoy her own music.

The Rise and Fall of a Music Superstar

Lizzo’s career took off in 2019 when her 2017 single “Truth Hurts” finally broke into the mainstream, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the longest-leading solo song by a female rapper at that time. She followed up with hits like “Juice,” “Tempo,” and “Good As Hell,” which climbed the charts years after its initial release. At the 2020 Grammys, she received eight nominations, the most of any artist that year, and won three awards. In 2023, she made history as the first Black female singer since Whitney Houston in 1994 to win Record of the Year for “About Damn Time.”

But in recent years, her momentum has stalled. Her 2025 single “Love in Real Life” and the mixtape My Face Hurts From Smiling failed to replicate her earlier success. The release of Bitch was met with little fanfare, and its lead singles, “Don't Make Me Love U” and “Bitch,” did not chart on the Hot 100. This dramatic drop-off puzzled many fans and industry observers alike.

Lizzo's Own Explanation

Earlier this month, before the Rolling Stone article, Lizzo addressed her declining popularity directly. In response to a viral tweet wondering where her fans had gone, she wrote: “I actually can answer this: the industry changed so much in the last 3 yrs. streaming replaced radio & I was a radio darling. That’s how my fans discovered my music. Not to mention the very obvious & public attack on my career changed things. But I’m out here doing my absolute best and u can’t knock a bitch for that 🫶🏾”

The “public attack” she referred to is the lawsuit filed in August 2023 by three former backup dancers, accusing Lizzo, her production company, and her dance captain of sexual, religious, and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, false imprisonment, and body-shaming. Lizzo has denied all allegations. While some parts of the lawsuit have been dismissed, the case remains ongoing. A second lawsuit was also filed but later dismissed because the plaintiff worked for Lizzo’s tour company rather than Lizzo herself.

Industry Analysis and Public Reaction

In the Rolling Stone article, record executives speculated on the reasons for Lizzo’s decline. Some argued that she never had a core fanbase, while others pointed to her music no longer delivering or the damage to her public image from the lawsuits. The data was stark: Bitch sold only 2,649 copies and had less than 2.7 million streams in its first week. In the second week, sales dropped to 650 and streams fell below a million. These numbers contrasted sharply with her previous album, Special (2022), which debuted in the top five and sold over 100,000 equivalent album units.

Lizzo’s TikTok response drew a wide range of comments. One top comment jibed, “How she got more likes then album sales.” Another user wrote, “Not you trying to convince us you are unbothered.” But some defended her, with one person asking, “y'all are bullies. what's your goal by telling her her album flopped?” and another noting, “Hating is soo normalised this days💔”

The situation highlights the volatility of the music industry, where streaming has replaced radio as the primary discovery method. Lizzo, who thrived in the radio era, may have struggled to adapt. Additionally, the legal battles have undoubtedly tarnished her brand, even if she maintains her innocence. The question remains whether she can rebuild her audience or if her peak years are behind her.

For now, Lizzo is choosing to focus on the positive, sharing her joy through dance and music. Whether that will translate into commercial success is uncertain, but her defiant stance shows she is not ready to give up. The music world watches closely to see if she can stage a comeback or if this marks the end of an era.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment News