Lizzo slammed after calling Britney Spears a Janet Jackson imitator

[FfFfFfFF 54,730]

  On 4/4/2025 at 3:47 PM, Bronco said:

I mean we all know I'm a massive Madge fan. 

But like if we're debating who the first pop Diva was you'd be going back to Cher & Diana Ross. Hell, remove the pop qualify and you automatically have to include Tina Turner for consideration as well.  

Expand  

And before them, our primordial ancestors were streaming Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland in the ancestral soup struck by lighting during Pangea. 🌈⚡

That was also the song Azalea Banks was listening to on her airpods when she abandoned her albino child. 🍃🍃

 

[River 111,190]

I mean… some people here on this thread said worst things about other artists so what Lizzo said is pretty much nothing to make a fuss about.

She didn’t offend Britney, she said the harsh truth, Britney was a product, her pop stars persona was created as a hybrid of a few diva and one of them is Janet, her dancing was always a Janet-inspired dancing.

[Windowlicker 3,372]

Think the issue is more about the fact she referred to Britney as an "imitator", which is a term that is loaded with negative connotations. Britney is not imitating anyone. She is and has always been Britney. It's like if someone referred to Gaga as a Madonna imitator (which they have). Nobody is going to look at that and think you're giving a compliment.

[OliviaRodrigoStan 4,999]

I do agree with the sentiment that Janet Jackson contributed a lot more to the "female pop" genre, than she gets credit for. Both in terms of visuals, fashion, and performance, Janet was the main influence for the "highly choreographed, futuristic diva" persona, that was so popular in the 00s. 

And yes, I also agree that Britney's team borrowed the most from Janet, as well as Britney herself probably had her as a main source of inspiration. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I think Lizzo phrased it horribly . 

She said it in a way that implies either malice, or lack of self identity on Britney's end, which is unfair because she was quite literally a minor when she broke into the scene, and her career was heavily controled by other people. If her early stage persona was too reminiscent of Janet, it was very much not her "doing a Janet impersonation" on purpose, nor her trying to steal from a black artist. 

She was a teenage star, aggressively controled by managment, who probably deeply admired Janet, and just wanted to be a cool pop star. I understand where Lizzo is coming from, but her delivery is awful, and rude, IMO 

[AiDi 110]

  On 4/4/2025 at 9:27 PM, River said:

she said the harsh truth,

Expand  

 

No, she said the harsh opinion. While I understand that Janet is underapreciated (because she's black?) Britney is an artist on her own, with her own personality - and THAT made her what she became. Imitators don't have their own personalities shine like Britney had. Also, she was not that agressively controlled by her team when it comes to artistic choices. She said that multiple times earlier in her career. 

 

Lizzo should stop talking, and focus on doing things she is good at, that is, making terrible music.

[MACATL 1,207]

  On 4/4/2025 at 2:15 PM, RenegAde said:

I'm a Janet stan but what alternate universe is she living? madonna broke out with her debut in 1983 while Control in 1986 was when janet got her big break. Both are pioneers and even Britney is too in her own right

Expand  

Janet was on stage in early childhood thanks to her brothers, then a child actress in multiple shows.  Musically, yes, Madonna hit first, but it’s true Janet was generally out there in the industry first. 
 

ive always said it was strange how people always compared Britney to Madonna, when her entire approach to performing was straight up Janet.  I think it was simply because she was a blonde white girl…and how they possibly compare her with a black woman? (Sarcasm intended)

I don’t think Britney ever shied away from her admiration for Janet and always credited her as an influence, just as Gaga did with Madonna. The difference is that Janet didn’t display incredible insecurity and turn around and attack Britney.  

Edited Saturday at 04:31 AM by MACATL

[PaperIz 7,338]

Ms. Abuser needs to take several seats.

[Ivy 12,016]

Well, she's a Janet Jackson stan I guess. I don't think she meant anything bad just that Janet doesn't get enough credit, but she often is not careful how she says things 

Maybe she was thinking about someone different than Madonna? Because that part is weird 

[River 111,190]

  On 4/5/2025 at 4:20 AM, AiDi said:

 

No, she said the harsh opinion. While I understand that Janet is underapreciated (because she's black?) Britney is an artist on her own, with her own personality - and THAT made her what she became. Imitators don't have their own personalities shine like Britney had. Also, she was not that agressively controlled by her team when it comes to artistic choices. She said that multiple times earlier in her career. 

 

Lizzo should stop talking, and focus on doing things she is good at, that is, making terrible music.

Expand  

I’m a fan of Britney since day 1 and she’s not an artist, she’s a performer, a great one, but she’s not creating her art and her team controlled her, that’s a fact, That’s why she hates the music industry.

[phantasmas 10,267]

 she's right and anyone who is mad doesn't understand pop music