What led SZA to confront body shamers?

SZA has never been one to shy away from telling the truth, and this time she’s calling out body-shaming fans for crossing the line.

This follows the release of “Lana” last Friday, December 20, almost a year after SZA began teasing it. Rather than being a separate project, “Lana” serves as a deluxe edition of her acclaimed 2022 album “SOS.”

In addition to calling out body abusers, SZA also defended herself against haters who attacked her singing skills online.

After a fan page shared a throwback photo of the “SOS” singer indulging her wanderlust during quarantine in 2020, another fan commented on her BBL surgery and weight gain — and SZA didn’t hold back.

SZA opened up about the significant challenges she’s faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the heartbreaking loss of her grandmother and a difficult battle with depression. These experiences left deep emotional scars, making it even more difficult to endure insensitive comments about her body. She admitted that such comments caused her to withdraw despite her fan base’s unwavering support.

To protect her peace, SZA has made intentional changes — narrowing her inner circle and even changing her phone number.

SZA revealed that comments like these have caused her to distance herself from her fans despite her unwavering loyalty.

“I’m never free for my fans because I love this shit,” she said in the October 2023 issue Rolling Stone. “They are my family and they are my people. I know what it’s like to feel small or like someone doesn’t care because I’ve been that way my whole life. I wasn’t popular in middle and elementary school.”

She added, “So I’m trying to make sure n-ggas know, ‘I hear you, I see you.’ I have time to stop for you. Yes, we can smoke together, you can come backstage. You can come to my house if you want.’ Hella fans have stayed with me and have often been to my house.”

She has previously defended Lizzo against body shamers who use social media to express themselves,

“I wonder where all the virtuous, well-spoken internet warriors are when someone who is sincere needs to be defended. Where the hell are you because of Lizzo? Do you all know how to support others or just put them down?”

Lizzo has previously addressed critics who commented on her weight, emphasizing that her “brand” is far more important than her physical appearance. “I just logged in and opened the app and this is the kind of shit I see about myself on a daily basis. “I’m really starting to hate the world,” she wrote on Twitter, adding: “She stopped eating fast food years ago.”

She added that she is simply trying to live a healthy life. “I’m not trying to be fat. I’m not trying to be smaller. I’m literally just trying to live and be healthy,” Lizzo added. “This is what my body looks like even when I eat super clean and exercise! You’re talking about shit, you all don’t know anything about it, and I’m starting to get heated.”

In an interview with British VogueSZA shared how fame has significantly changed her everyday reality since she stepped into the spotlight.

The SOS singer admitted to often feeling an overwhelming sense of paranoia, especially in public spaces where she fears fans might secretly photograph or record her. “It always reveals the ego and the vanity,” SZA admitted. “When you’re in historical places or in beautiful nature and you think, ‘That’s definitely me.’ But that’s the psychosis of fame. It makes you so paranoid.”

“You’re not even in touch with reality because you’re so scared,” she added, feeling disconnected from reality.

To stay grounded, SZA relies on her friends and team to help her balance fans’ expectations without getting too caught up in the noise of online conversation. “They keep me updated on everything,” she explained. “I’m like, ‘Guys, should I delete this?’ They’ll say, ‘No, you’re fine.’ But you should probably release a different version of that song because that’s what people want to hear.” You let me know so I don’t have to search the internet.”