Lizzos Fifth Album Bitch Underperforms, Prompting Public Reflection on Career and Legal Turmoil

When Lizzo’s highly anticipated fifth studio album Bitch hit shelves on June 5 2026, the buzz was palpable. Released through Nice Life and Atlantic Records, it marked her first full‑length project since the 2025 mixtape My Face Hurts From Smiling.

The sales story, however, was stark. According to a Rolling Stone report, the album failed to chart on the Billboard 200 and moved only 2,600 copies in its opening week. The two lead singles—"Don't Make Me Love U" (March 20) and the title track "Bitch" (May 1)—also missed the Billboard Hot 100.

Lizzo’s commercial momentum has been in decline since her 2019 smash "Truth Hurts," and the modest reception of her mixtape has compounded the drop. The industry’s shifting landscape has left the artist with a new reality.

In a moment that went viral, Lizzo posted a TikTok video of herself dancing to the album track "Sexy Ladies" in her living room, captioning it "Imagine thinking I 'crashed out' and I'm at home just…" The clip drew a mix of criticism for appearing unbothered and speculation that she was using dance as a coping mechanism.

Shortly after, she appeared on the Proto Pop podcast. When asked how she felt about the album’s performance, she said, "I think right now, dropping the album, I took it to heart really heavily… I was really stressed and really sad for a few days because I just was like, wait a minute. This is some of my best stuff." She added that the music industry had changed over the past three years and that her relationship with listeners had shifted.

Lizzo revealed that she had taken on promotional duties herself, conducting a press run that included interviews and personally hanging up promotional posters. She noted that she had met her pre‑save goal but that the first‑week sales fell short of expectations, describing the experience as "soul‑crushing."

During the interview, the singer credited her friend SZA for emotional support. "Thank god for Solana," she said. "SZA called me, she was like, 'Hey, you're on my mind.' And I was like, 'Am I a failure?' She was like, 'Oh my God, no!'" Lizzo said she used meditation and prayer to process her feelings.

The album’s commercial disappointment sits beside a legal storm. In August 2023, three former backup dancers filed a lawsuit against Lizzo, her production company, and her dance captain, alleging sexual harassment, religious and racial discrimination, and a hostile work environment. Lizzo has denied the allegations, but the lawsuit has been part of a broader narrative that has affected her public image and possibly her commercial performance.

Bitch was co‑written and co‑produced by Lizzo with long‑time collaborator Ricky Reed, as well as Blake Slatkin, Pop Wansel, Cheche Alara, and Nate Mercereau. The album blends R&B, hip‑hop, pop, synth‑funk, and soul, with themes of empowerment, vulnerability, and personal growth.

In short, the latest project has underperformed commercially, prompting Lizzo to publicly acknowledge the emotional toll and to reflect on changes in the music industry and her own career trajectory. The release, coupled with the ongoing lawsuit, marks a challenging period for the singer‑rapper as she navigates both artistic and legal obstacles.