Beyoncé made headlines during her Renaissance World Tour stop outside of Boston when she opted not to mention Lizzo’s name while performing the “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix).” This decision came in the wake of a high-profile lawsuit filed against Lizzo, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, by three of her former dancers. The lawsuit alleges harassment, a hostile work environment, and weight shaming among other claims.
In the remix’s third verse, Queen Bey typically lists names of influential Black women in music and includes Lizzo in the lineup. However, during the concert at Gillette Stadium, Beyoncé was seen singing “Badu, Badu, Badu, Badu,” repeating Erykah Badu’s name instead of Lizzo’s.
The omission of Lizzo’s name raised eyebrows, considering the recent lawsuit and allegations made against her. The suit claims that the dancers were pressured to touch nude performers while at a club in Amsterdam and endured weight shaming. The lawsuit also accused Quigley of proselytizing and creating a hostile work environment.
Adding to the controversy, Erykah Badu seemingly claimed that Lizzo copied her style when she shared a photo of herself and Beyoncé wearing similar chrome-brimmed hats on her Instagram Story.
Amidst the speculation surrounding Beyoncé’s choice to omit Lizzo’s name, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, stepped in to address the matter on social media, stating that Beyoncé also didn’t mention her own sister’s name during the performance.
The lawsuit against Lizzo alleges actions that seem contradictory to her public persona, known for embracing body positivity and empowerment. The dancers claim that her treatment towards them was demeaning and demoralizing.
The dancers involved in the lawsuit had previously performed with Lizzo after appearing on her Amazon reality show, “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” in 2021. However, they were later fired or resigned from their positions.
As of now, Lizzo and her representatives have not responded to the lawsuit allegations, and Quigley has not provided a comment on the matter. Additionally, Beyoncé’s performance decisions have not been officially addressed.
Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour continues, and her performance choices and recent controversy are likely to remain in the spotlight as fans and media await further developments.