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Lizzohas landed in hot water after making a bold statement at a rally alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.
The pop star, proud of her Detroit roots, claimed that America could look like her hometown if Harris were elected president.
While she intended to paint Detroit in a positive light, her comments were quickly met with backlash online.
Critics said her remarks were more of an endorsement for DonaldTrumpthan for Harris.
Lizzo’s Love for Detroit: “Proud and Resilient”
Lizzo, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, was front and center at a campaign rally with Vice President Kamala Harris in her beloved hometown of Detroit.
She stood before a crowd at Western International High School, full of pride.“You know, they say if Kamala wins, then the whole country will be like Detroit,”she said.
“Proud like Detroit. Resilient like Detroit. The sameDetroitthat innovated the auto industry and the music industry. Put some respect on Detroit’s name.”
Her intent was clear—Lizzo wanted to shine a light on the strength and innovation of her city.
Detroit has long been known as the birthplace of Motown and a powerhouse in the auto industry.
But her attempt to link this resilience with Harris’s presidential run backfired.
Social Media Backlash: “Unintended Endorsement for Trump?”
The backlash was swift and loud.Social mediausers jumped on Lizzo’s comments, with many focusing on Detroit’s history of economic struggle and high crime rates.
Some felt that Lizzo’s words painted a grim picture of Harris’s future in politics.
One Twitter user wrote,“Kamala will turn America into impoverished, run-down, and unsafe Detroit? That’s all people will hear. Not a great message.”
Another person added,“If Kamala is elected, the whole country will look like Detroit—a decimated car industry and some of the highest crime rates in the nation.”
For some, the comment felt like an unexpected boost for Donald Trump.“That’s an ad for Trump if I’ve ever heard one!”one tweet read.
Many users felt that the connection to Detroit’s decline was more powerful in people’s minds than the city’s success stories.
Source: Instagram/lizzobeeating
Detroit’s Complicated Past: A City of Highs and Lows
The strong reaction to Lizzo’s words is tied to Detroit’s complex history. In the 1950s, Detroit was booming, with a population of around 1.8 million.
It was a major hub for the auto industry and a key player inAmerica’s industrial growth. However, in the following decades, the city experienced a sharp decline.
Many white residents left for the suburbs in a phenomenon known as “white flight,” followed by a departure of the Black middle-class years later.
The city’s economy took a hit, especially as the auto industry shrank. Factories closed, jobs disappeared, and by 2013, Detroit filed for federal bankruptcy protection.
The city was $18 billion in debt and unable to provide basic services like streetlights and garbage collection. The population dropped to roughly 685,000 by the end of 2012.
Detroit’s crime rates also soared, earning it a reputation as one of the most violent cities in America.
It became a symbol of urban decay, with abandoned houses and crumbling infrastructure marking the cityscape.
This image of Detroit is still fresh in many people’s minds, which is why Lizzo’s comparison stirred such strong reactions.
A Slow but Steady Comeback
While Detroit’s decline was hard to miss, the city has been making strides toward a comeback.
In recent years, Detroit has been investing heavily in rebuilding its infrastructure and creating new jobs.
One of the city’s biggest success stories is the renovation of the iconicMichigan Central Station, which reopened in 2023 after 30 years of sitting vacant.
It was once a symbol of Detroit’s decay, but now it stands as a sign of its revitalization.
Crime rates have also started to fall. Detroit ended 2023 with 252 homicides, the fewest recorded since 1966.
Nonfatal shootings dropped by 16%, showing real progress in a city that was once known for its violence.
While there’s still work to be done, there’s a sense of hope that Detroit is slowly getting back on its feet.
Rally Highlights: A Call to Vote
Despite the uproar, the rally’s main focus was to get people in Michigan tovote.
Lizzo, known for her powerful performances, didn’t miss a beat when people in the crowd mentioned they couldn’t hear her.
She broke into an impromptu performance of her hit songAbout Damn Time, much to the crowd’s delight.
Kamala Harris, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of voter turnout.
“On Election Day, we don’t want to have any regrets about what we could’ve done in these next 17 days,”she told the crowd.
November 5 is just around the corner, and Harris made it clear that every vote counts.
Source: Instagram/lizzobeeating
A Divisive Moment
Lizzo’s comments about Detroit have certainly made waves. What was intended to be a moment of pride for her city turned into a heated debate about the future of America.
Her comparison to Detroit, a city with both deepstrugglesand incredible resilience, sparked strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
While some saw her words as a positivemessageabout overcoming challenges, others couldn’t shake the memories of Detroit’s economic collapse and high crime rates.
Whether Lizzo’s remarks help or hurt Kamala Harris’s campaign remains to be seen, but they’ve definitely added fuel to the political conversation.
Lizzo: Key Facts and Career Highlights
Category
Details
Full Name
Melissa Viviane Jefferson
Stage Name
Lizzo
Date of Birth
April 27, 1988
Age
36 years old (as of 2024)
Place of Birth
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Education
University of Houston
Occupation
Singer, Rapper, Songwriter, Flutist, Actress
Genres
Hip Hop, Pop, Funk, R&B
Breakthrough
2019 with the albumCuz I Love You
Famous Songs
“Truth Hurts,” “Good as Hell,” “About Damn Time”
Instruments
Vocals, Flute
Awards
Grammy Awards, BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards
Advocacy
Body positivity, Self-love, Inclusivity
Notable Events
Played the flute in high school band; known for empowering anthems and activism
Social Media Influence
Known for being outspoken on social issues and politics
This table concisely overviews Lizzo’s biography
Conclusion
Lizzo’s attempt to highlight Detroit’s resilience sparked a major controversy.
What she intended as a positive comparison between Kamala Harris’s campaign and Detroit’s fighting spirit quickly turned into a divisive conversation.
The backlash revealed just how complicated Detroit’s history is in the public eye.
For some, the city represents strength and innovation, while for others, it symbolizes decline and struggle.
While the pop star’s remarks added fuel to the political fire, they also underscored how deeply people feel about the future of the country and how quickly words can be interpreted in different ways.
Whether this moment will have a lasting impact on Kamala Harris’s campaign or Lizzo’s influence in politics remains unclear.
What’s certain is that Lizzo’s comments have gotten people talking—and thinking—about the future direction of America.
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
