Rapper Lizzo addressed her extended break, which she had announced on social media in August 2024, at the Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit on October 14, 2024.
This decision for a break followed her arrival in Bali, Indonesia, where she shared her plans to take a gap year. During the summit, when asked how she spent her time during her gap year, she said,
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“Gap year? Girl, who said a gap year?I will say it like this. I launched my company Yitty in 2022 at the same time as my album, Special."
She continued,
“I had been on the road almost all the way until August 2023 working and 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 just been working, working, working. So, you might not see me, but I am working. It ain’t a gap year, it’s a grind year.”
In April 2024, Lizzo addressed similar remarks about quitting music, which she had made amid allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
After initially posting on Instagram with the message "I Quit," she later clarified that her statement focused on negative energy. She said,
“What I am not gonna quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting to people. Cause I know I am not alone in no way, shape, or form am I the only person who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive.”
Lizzo previously announced that she would write an album on her mental health journey
On August 27, 2024 Lizzo shared an Instagram reel whose caption hinted at her working on a new album.
In a previous video, Lizzo was seen standing outside in the rain wearing a black swimsuit, where she expressed her intention to focus on protecting her peace during this break. In the caption, she wrote,
“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 & emotional health in the last year… wheeeew don’t worry imma write a album about it.”
Lizzo has been candid about her struggles with mental health following a lawsuit filed by her former dancers, who alleged sexual misconduct and hostile work conditions, all of which she strongly denied.
At the Fortune event, she twice chose not to discuss the issue, stating that the occasion was meant for celebrating CEOs and powerful women.
Lizzo also shared how she found solace in making music and working out, topics she addressed during the summit. She hinted that she was close to finishing her fifth studio album, expressing pride in the music she had created. Additionally, she mentioned that she was focusing on body neutrality rather than body positivity.
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