Why Did Beyoncé Remove Lizzo’s Name from Live Concert Tribute?

Beyoncé’s decision to exclude Lizzo from her live concert tribute has sparked fan speculation. During her Renaissance World Tour performance of “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix),” Beyoncé typically names influential artists who have inspired her. However, Lizzo’s name was noticeably absent in a recent show, while Erykah Badu’s name was repeated multiple times. This comes after Badu seemingly shaded Beyoncé’s style in a recent Instagram story. 

About a month ago, Lizzo expressed her emotional reaction to being listed among influential Black female artists on Beyoncé’s tour. However, Lizzo’s name was omitted from Beyoncé’s tribute on Tuesday. Many fans are now speculating that Beyoncé’s repeated mention of Badu’s name might be a response to Badu’s perceived dig at Beyoncé’s style.

Amid this controversy, Lizzo is facing a lawsuit filed by three former backup dancers. The dancers allege experiencing awful working conditions during their time with Lizzo between 2021 and the spring of this year. The lawsuit claims violations of California workplace codes, including feeling pressured to attend a nude show and interact physically with performers. One dancer stated that Lizzo weaponized her known eating disorder against her.

While Lizzo has not responded to the lawsuit or the allegations, fans noticed the timing of Beyoncé’s exclusion of Lizzo’s name from her tribute and the lawsuit going public. Some fans believe that Beyoncé intentionally skipped Lizzo’s name in response to the lawsuit news, while others think it was just a coincidence. The omission of other artists’ names, like Kelly Rowland, Lauryn Hill, and Roberta Flack, further fueled speculation about Beyoncé’s intentions.

As the tour continues, fans will be watching closely to see if Beyoncé maintains this tweaked version of her tribute or reverts back to her original list of influential artists. It remains uncertain whether Beyoncé’s actions were a direct reaction to the lawsuit or if there were other factors at play. As of now, both Beyoncé and Lizzo have remained silent on the matter.

Image credits; Wikimedia & Wikimedia.