Lizzo was in the news recently when she appeared on Saturday Night Live — not only for her performance, but for what she wore. The artist performed in a Britney Spears t-shirt, a gesture that follows closely on the heels of her sparking outrage by comparing Britney’s career to Janet Jackson’s.

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Backlash Over Comparison

The backlash started when Lizzo compared Britney Spears to Janet Jackson in a recent interview. Although her words were probably intended to emphasize their influence on pop culture, most Britney fans perceived the comparison as diminishing Spears’ personal issues and individual contributions to the industry. The social media reaction was immediate, with fans accusing Lizzo of being tone-deaf and insensitive.

Mixed Reactions to the T-Shirt Statement

Lizzo’s choice of wearing a Britney t-shirt on SNL has polarized fans and critics. Some considered it a wink of apology or a gesture of solidarity towards the pop icon. Others perceived it as a strategy to do some damage control and ease the backlash after her initial comments.

“Wearing a shirt ain’t gonna right what she said,” one tweeted on X (formerly Twitter), while another commented, “Least she’s bringing up Britney. Maybe she didn’t do it on purpose after all.”

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A History of Pop Culture Tributes

Lizzo has a history of honoring pop icons and frequently takes tribute to acts that have inspired her. Nevertheless, this act shows how innocently meant tributes can turn out to go wrong, particularly when public feeling is at play.

Up to this point, Lizzo has not commented publicly on the controversy or indicated the significance of her fashion choice. Whether it was a sincere tribute to Britney or an effort to make amends remains to be seen.