Once celebrated as a role model for body positivity, Lizzo now faces allegations of mistreating her backup dancers, which contradict the values she promoted. These accusations, including claims that she mocked her dancers’ appearances, have sparked lawsuits and cast a shadow over her reputation.
Adding to her troubles, South Park, the popular and often provocative animated series, released a special episode that satirizes body positivity and the trend of using the weight loss drug Ozempic. Lizzo is repeatedly mentioned by name and becomes the primary target of the episode’s satire by creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. But why was Lizzo singled out? Let’s delve into the reasons behind her becoming an obvious target for South Park’s creators.
South Park Presents “Lizzo” as a Satirical Alternative to Ozempic
Lizzo has been one of the most unapologetically outspoken celebrities advocating for body positivity. She posed nude on the cover of her breakout album, Cuz I Love You (2019), and has consistently promoted the concept of embracing one’s body shape in nearly every interview she has given.
These factors made her an obvious choice to represent an “alternative” to weight loss in South Park’s satirical lens. Given her celebrity status and the recent allegations that she failed to practice what she preached, she became a prime target for parody.
In the South Park special titled “The End of Obesity,” “Lizzo” is the name of a fictitious drug offered to those who can’t afford Ozempic. It’s portrayed as “FDA approved” and claims to make users feel good about their weight while costing 90% less than Ozempic. The drug is named after the singer because it symbolizes a state of mind rather than an actual weight loss solution. Those who take “Lizzo” in the show are encouraged to champion their body shape without putting any effort into working out or changing their diet.
@lizzo 🫢
♬ original sound – lizzo
In the episode, a voiceover for a “Lizzo” ad declares:
“In case studies, 70% of patients on Lizzo no longer cared about their weight. Lizzo allows you to eat everything you want and keep physical activity to a minimum.”
The show’s portrayal of “weight loss” is not a commentary on the real Lizzo’s weight or any implication that the pop singer has taken Ozempic. Instead, it leverages her fame and the trend of Ozempic usage among celebrities to make satirical jokes about weight loss in general.
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Lizzo reacted positively to the South Park jokes
We’ve seen public figures respond poorly to South Park mockery. Kanye West, for instance, was so annoyed by his “fishstick” episode that he included a diss towards the show’s writing staff on his 2010 masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Lizzo, on the other hand, took it in stride. The singer posted a reaction to the special on TikTok, admitting that she was initially scared to see how she was satirized. “Guys, my worst fear has been actualized,” she told her fans. “I’ve been referenced in a South Park episode. I’m so scared.”
Lizzo recorded herself watching the special, and at one point, she puts her hand over her mouth in surprise. However, she took away something positive from her involvement. “That’s crazy,” she said. “I really showed the world how to love yourself to the point where these men in Colorado put it on their cartoon that’s been around for 25 years.” The singer’s upbeat handling of the situation contrasts with her previous social media update.
On May 23, Lizzo posted an Instagram picture of herself, claiming to be the happiest she had been in nearly a year. The depression she experienced mostly stemmed from the lawsuits and accusations made against her, but Lizzo assured fans that she was on the rebound. “The strange thing about depression is you don’t know you’re in it until you’re out of it,” she wrote in the caption. “I’m definitely not all the way as carefree as I used to be… But the dark cloud that followed me every day is finally clearing up.”
