• About
  • Advertise
  • FAQs
  • Contact
Friday, May 9, 2025
Subscribe
The Curvy Fashionista
  • Style
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Curvy CEO
  • Shop TCF
  • Events Calendar
  • The Plus Directory
No Result
View All Result
  • Style
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Curvy CEO
  • Shop TCF
  • Events Calendar
  • The Plus Directory
No Result
View All Result
The Curvy Fashionista
No Result
View All Result

Lizzo May Be A Lot of Things, But A Mammy She is NOT

The Fatphobia Is Showing

DarkSkyLady by DarkSkyLady
4 years ago
Reading Time: 8 mins read
A A
0
Lizzo shows off look on Instagram

Image via @LizzoBeeating Instagram

408
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Itโ€™s bad enough that cis Black men and women from different backgrounds throw hate at Black women. When itโ€™s a fat, Black woman, the collective hate is stronger. And in this case? Lizzo is the target of ridiculous fatphobia and we are here to show love and support behind Lizzo.

Cardi B and Lizzo- Rumors COllaboration
Image via @LizzoBeeating Instagram

Over the weekend, on the heels of the Rumors debut, a few Twitter users decided to call out Lizzo and likened her to a Mammy. A Mammy!

The way some are trying to claim that Lizzo is a mammy shows they a) havenโ€™t done the reading and b) they are throwing shade at Lizzo, simply because she is a fat Black woman who dares to own all of herself, unapologetically.ย 

RelatedPosts

Op-Ed: Is The Slang โ€˜Big Backโ€™ Fatphobic?

We Ainโ€™t Having It! The Best Fatphobic Clap Backs Ranked

Plus Size Fashion on the Red Carpet and Center Stage at The 74th Emmyโ€™s

What are we talking about? Why this conversation?

Lizzo โ€œRumorsโ€ music video featuring Cardi B from Youtube

We know and love that Lizzo is a gorgeous, talented, confident plus size, Black woman. Her singing sends chills up and down our spines. She owns every aspect of herself and from interviews, to singing, she exists as a person with depth and range, idiosyncrasies, etc.

To claim she is a mammy diminishes her existence as a human being.

Granted, a lot of celebrities have a persona in front of cameras, but that is still an aspect of their character and not to be confused with a caricature.

Itโ€™s a shame some of our own are so fatphobic and resentful of a confident, plus size, Black woman who is comfortable in her body, that they will project their own prejudices onto her.ย 

But Letโ€™s Break This Down

Mammy Is A Caricature

The mammy character, alongside a lack of sexuality, views the white family as theirย family.

Films likeย Gone With The Windย had a mammy character. The mammy character, for white people, was a safe haven for white people and, more importantly, white women. They were older, overweight and considered โ€œuglyโ€ thanks to their dark skin, and were not sexual.

The mammy was the antithesis of Jezebel who was the hypersexual Black woman caricature that was a direct threat to white women because, โ€œall Black women want is to steal white womenโ€™s white men.โ€ย 

The mammy character, alongside a lack of sexuality, views the white family as their family. Their white family is the priority and all others, including the mammyโ€™s actual family, is a secondary priority or nonexistent. Their life and existence is only for white people. She is the maternal caretaker and protector of the white family.

The mammy, in fiction, is terrified of being cast aside by their white family. White people love thisโ€” the portrayal of the Black person who is so happy to be part of the white family and are filled with terror at the thought of being โ€œfreeโ€.ย 

Lizzo Is Nobodyโ€™s Mammy

Lizzo Being Bold and Fabulous
Image via @LizzoBeeating Instagram

Mammies are fictional caricatures.ย They are fictional exaggerations crafted by white people.ย 

Mammies characters are devoid of sexuality.ย From the mammyโ€™s conduct to their clothing, they are not portrayed or viewed by white people in any sexual manner. Their hair is covered, their clothing unflattering and their manner is not flirtatious.

Have they seen Lizzoโ€™s performances or music videos? She embodies confidence and sensuality.ย 

Mammiesโ€™ priority is white people.ย As previously stated, mammies are fiction based on white fears. The mammy portrayal is for white people, particularly white women, comfort. The maternal Black womanโ€”wonโ€™t steal their manโ€”will coddle them and their children and loves being a slave or servant to white families. They exist for the white gaze, white approval and as white support.ย 

Lizzo speaks out on issues of racism and body positivity. The last thing that seems to be on Lizzoโ€™s mind is white comfort.

Why Then Claim Lizzo Is Aย Mammy?

Some try to claim the reason is because Lizzo is loved by white people.

No, seriouslyโ€ฆ this is what folks on Twitter are claiming.

You know who else is loved by white people?

Beyonce, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Normani and the lists goes on. Their music, like Lizzoโ€™s, creates fans from different cultural, racial and economic backgrounds.

So, why is Lizzo being labeled a mammy?ย 

Lizzo debuts Rumors with Cardi B
Image via @LizzoBeeating Instagram

All the claims against Lizzo could fit many other performing artists. We also established that mammyโ€™s are fictional, desexualized and are for white comfort. So, if these donโ€™t apply to Lizzo, why claim Lizzo is a mammy?

Lizzo is a fat, Black woman who confidently wears a thong.ย 

Think about it. How dare she be confident in her fullness. How dare she be bold enough to rock a thong. How dare she exist outside the beauty norms and look amazing while doing so?

Her confidence, her moxie, her audacity to show up fully, without caring or asking for permission, is the reason thereโ€™s an issue.

Lizzo speaking FACTS??โ€โ™‚๏ธ https://t.co/O9OUsv1QPm

โ€” AMIRAZINE (@youwereoffbeat) August 15, 2021
From Twitter

People are used to fat Black women receiving insults and disgust when they donโ€™t hide their bodies. But these people also want to hide or deny (I use this term loosely since they are obvious af) their fatphobia.

Few Black women have come on the scene dressing in the same kind of attire as their thinner counterparts. Most fat Black women artists are covered up. They donโ€™t wear thongs, or make a music video naked. Thatโ€™s for the Rihannas of the world. Her style is what set off the issue.

For fatphobic people, they look at her with an โ€œhow dare sheโ€ attitude.ย 

The fact that they claim it is about marketing, shows their horror and disgust with Black, confident, plus size women. Cardi B has had video after video wearing next to nothing, same as any other artist. But you notice, no one is calling them a mammy or questioning their confidence.

Lizzo does it and so it must be a โ€œmarketing mammy tacticโ€œ because itโ€™s inconceivable to them that a Black, confident, plus size woman would want to dress that way.

Itโ€™s even more inconceivable that there are people who would respond favorably and love her for it. And since Lizzo is a big, Black woman, in their ignorant fatphobic eyes, the claim of mammy automatically fits.

We are Not Having That

Many fans are not having it, especially since Lizzo broke down on IG live due to the influx of senseless hate. And neither is Cardi B who took to twitter to defend Lizzo.

But the song is doing great !! On all platforms.When people callin you โ€œmammyโ€cause your a black woman makin pop music and thousands of people callin you names it gets to you .Your bio says โ€œblack everythingโ€ I guess it donโ€™t apply to black women emotions huh? https://t.co/B3Rr2Y7VCS pic.twitter.com/Xla0wk8Y1D

โ€” Cardi B (@iamcardib) August 15, 2021
From Twitter

Keep hating on a sister, while claiming youโ€™re โ€œnot fatphobic and itโ€™s about her marketing,โ€ which is code for she isnโ€™t hiding her figure enough for your liking.

Itโ€™s beautiful to see a celebrity defending Lizzo. Cardi is not about to stand on the side and watch. But more people need to speak up because there are other disgusting people such as Boyce Watkins who keeps Lizzoโ€™s name in his mouth labeling her performance โ€œminstrel.โ€

The fact is, that in their minds, it is unfathomable that people love Lizzo because of her looks, her voice, her smile or her talent. So they pick what makes sense to their prejudicial eyes, mammy or minstrelsy.

Okay guys I did too much and this wasnโ€™t part of my plans for today but ya not going to keep trying these women ! NOT ON MY WATCH???Iโ€™ll probably talk to yโ€™all later .Letโ€™s get some ice cream and listen to RUMORS https://t.co/kQGsC0NOeR

โ€” Cardi B (@iamcardib) August 16, 2021
From Twitter

Caricatures such as mammy, jezebel, and sapphire are not traits only Black people possess.

The point of caricatures is to strip range and dimension from a group of people. If theyโ€™re simply a character, itโ€™s not problematic when they are abused or marginalized.

Maybe instead of focusing on Lizzo living her best life, they should focus on that bitter jealousy festering inside and confront the fact that they are livid because someone they feel is undeserving of praiseโ€”due to their sizeโ€”is lauded as gorgeous and sexy.ย 

Lizzo shows off look on Instagram
Image via @LizzoBeeating Instagram

Act like Lizzo ainโ€™t the baddestโ€ฆ well, we know how the rest goes!

Tags: Body ShamingLizzo
Share127Tweet80
DarkSkyLady

DarkSkyLady

Related Posts

2025 met gala
Celebrity Style and Fashion

Where Are the Curves? A Plus-Size Breakdown of Met Gala 2025โ€™s Red Carpet Wins & Misses

by Karajuicyjohnson
May 6, 2025
Uniting Sports, Music, and Community โ€” Cali War Home Opener Aims to Push Womenโ€™s Football into the Mainstream
Curvy Boss

Uniting Sports, Music, and Community โ€” Cali War Home Opener Aims to Push Womenโ€™s Football into the Mainstream

by Kerbi Lynn
April 30, 2025
Fringe Benefits! Western Wearโ€™s Black Legacy Rides Again (With a Little Help from Beyoncรฉ)
Culture

Fringe Benefits! Western Wearโ€™s Black Legacy Rides Again (With a Little Help from Beyoncรฉ)

by Lauryn Bass
April 29, 2025
Rethinking Rest: Why a Wellness Retreat Might Be the Vacation Your Soul (and Body) Really Needs
Wellness

Rethinking Rest: Why a Wellness Retreat Might Be the Vacation Your Soul (and Body) Really Needs

by Marie Denee
April 28, 2025
What Is Inclusive Fitness? How All Bodies Can Take Up Space
Lifestyle

Ditch the Diet Culture: 5 Fierce Plus Size Fitness Influencers You Need on Your Timeline

by Brianne
March 27, 2025 - Updated on April 25, 2025
Maui Bigelow of Phat Girl Fresh talks about FFFWeek on The Curvy Fashionista
Body Image

I Got 99 Problems And Being Fat Ainโ€™t 1โ€ฆ Well, Sometimes It Is!

by Marie Denee
March 27, 2025 - Updated on April 25, 2025
Next Post

9 Primers We Love That Will Make Your Foundation Last

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

What are you looking for?

No Result
View All Result

What's Popular Now

  • What plus-size people actually wore to NYFW

    What Plus Size People Actually Wore To New York Fashion Week

    1518 shares
    Share 603 Tweet 377
  • The Dividing Truth Behind B Bellies

    2633 shares
    Share 1032 Tweet 645
  • Plus Size Little White Dress: Your Spring Style? We Just Upgraded It

    413 shares
    Share 160 Tweet 100
  • Black Plus Size Influencers over 40 Who Are Bringing ALL the Style

    498 shares
    Share 197 Tweet 123
  • Who Is Sara Milliken? Learn All About the 2024 National American Miss Alabama!

    448 shares
    Share 175 Tweet 110

The Curvy Fashionista is THE plus size fashion media platform dedicated to celebrating plus size folks with curves, confidence, style, and smarts; covering the latest in plus size fashion news.

Company

  • About
  • Team TCF
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Contact

Info

  • Plus Size FAQs
  • Plus Size Resources
  • Privacyย 
  • Sitemap
No Result
View All Result
  • Style
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Curvy CEO
  • Editorโ€™s Desk
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop TCF
  • Contact
  • About The Curvy Fashionista

ยฉ 2008- 2025 ยท by TCFStyle Media ยท All Rights Reserved ยท

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.