One Direction Stans Are Trying To Cancel Lizzo For An Old Video In Which She Sucks A Popsicle
One Direction fans feel like Lizzo has "disrespected" Harry Styles.
Earlier today, #LizzoIsOverParty began trending thanks to the work of One Direction stans, who were responding to what they felt was a slight against Harry Styles by the ‘Truth Hurts’ singer.
The story begins with an old video Lizzo posted to her TikTok, in which the popstar suggestively sucks a chocolate popsicle while watching Harry Styles onstage. The video is highly euphemistic, of course, as are other comments that Lizzo has made about the ex-One Direction star — the two have frequently made enjoyably lewd jokes about their friendship.
But according to One Direction fans, such risque humour is “offensive” to Styles and his image. When the popsicle video resurfaced, young One Direction stans claimed that such material made Styles “uncomfortable”, clearly ignoring the fact that Styles is Lizzo’s friend.
This, sadly, is a common aspect of modern fandom — the need to “defend” stars by imagining they would be slighted by events and content, acting as “protectors” by spewing hate and downplaying the star’s own agency in the process.
So virulent was the reaction of some members of the One Direction fandom, in fact, that #LizzoIsOverParty began to trend on Twitter, that hashtag attracting a great deal of sexist, racist and body-shaming content.
In response, less toxic elements of the standom — and particularly the stans of Styles’ solo career, who are known for their socially progressive activities online and for their positivity, guided by Styles’ own mantra of “Treat People With Kindness” — flooded the hashtag with pro-Lizzo sentiment. The positive trend even attracted other standoms, with messages defending Lizzo getting shared by k-pop and Taylor Swift fans.
she speaks about sex openly and y’all think she committed a federal crime PLSSSS #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/Z4VWl75duF
— ✨veah ⁷ ᵇˡᵐ✨ (@vibinwithveah) August 14, 2020
can we stop shitting on black women (and women in general) for being open about sex #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/2RiwDppOVI
— nick loves c*ck (@KISSIESLOT) August 14, 2020
if harry had a problem with lizzo he would have stopled being friends with her. you misogynistic directioners just want another excuse to cancel a successful woman. stay mad, lizzo is beautiful. #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/3ftdWs1HVM
— emmaᴴ🧃 (@DELICATEKlSSY) August 14, 2020
the misogyny fatphobia and anti blackness under this tag 😍 #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/BfzvEsc6aY
— rei (@love666galore) August 14, 2020
Y'all are acting like the boys are soft innocent puppies. Sorry to break it to you but they're grown ass men who can take a fucking joke.There's a difference between sexualizing someone and making a joke. Just say your anti black and go #LizzoIsOverParty
— Bethel ♡' girls (@KMMONVINYL) August 14, 2020
not you guys cancelling lizzo for talking about sex and dick but still allowing men who are genuinely problematic run the industry… make it make sense um #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/jf3GOm3Blu
— nora ミ☆ (@tayloberlin) August 14, 2020
harry loves her, get over it ❤️ #LizzoIsOverParty pic.twitter.com/jtSbajldLP
— spencer reidᴴ (@lightsupIive) August 14, 2020
Neither Styles nor Lizzo have commented on the incident.