Why Lizzo Might Decide Not to Release Her Album “Love in Real Life”

When Lizzo announced in March that her album Love in Real Life was complete, fans braced for its arrival—only to be surprised by a raw rap mixtape, My Face Hurts From Smiling, instead. Now, the superstar is sharing what prompted this creative pivot.
In a new cover story for New York Magazine published on September 8, Lizzo admitted she isn’t sure when—or even if—Love in Real Life will ever see the light of day. “By 2025, I’d grown, the world had shifted, and those songs no longer reflected who I am,” she explains. “So I decided to follow my gut and start from scratch.”
After the album’s lead singles stalled on the Billboard Hot 100, she convened a meeting with Atlantic Records executives. “I told them, ‘I need to do this my way—and I need you to have my back,’” Lizzo recalls. “They agreed, no questions asked.”
For now, the album’s release date remains “TBD.” Instead, Lizzo is immersing herself in the music that excites her most: her new mixtape. “I’m in the most exhilarating creative flow of my life,” she declares. “If it’s not your thing, that’s fine—I’ve got thousands more tracks lined up.”
This shift comes after intense legal battles: three former dancers filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, followed by a suit from a wardrobe assistant accusing her touring company of racism and sexism. Lizzo denies all claims and was dismissed from the second lawsuit, but the ordeal has weighed heavily on her.
She recounts a visit to an amusement park where she had to step away and cry in her car. “I wanted to just go live on Instagram and vent,” she says, “but everything I say could be used against me in court.”
See Lizzo’s New York Magazine cover below:

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