Never let it be said Lizzo doesn’t know how to self-promote. On Monday, the musician and newly minted fashion entrepreneur gave a major tease of the Tuesday launch of her new shapewear brand, Yitty, as she boarded a plane wearing a black Yitty-branded bralette, thong and garter-like pair of leggings that bared her buttocks, all posted for the viewing pleasure of Instagram.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Express
Of course, this butt-baring moment was nothing new. Aside from her regularly revealing Instagram feed, Lizzo memorably raised the ire of many in 2019 when she attended a Lakers and Timberwolves NBA face-off wearing a t-shirt dress with cutouts strategically baring each cheek. The appearance sparked a debate on social media, with many calling out those who objected to Lizzo’s exhibitionism as fat-shamers—which was, in many cases, true—while others were recoiling at the thought of the artist putting her bare buttocks in direct contact with a publicly used folding chair.
To be clear, it was a private plane Lizzo was boarding this round, making the environment a bit more controlled than courtside at an NBA game. While one might argue the sunglass-clad performer was simply dressing for an extra-comfortable flight, in typical Lizzo fashion, she made an entrance, emerging from a black luxury SUV and dramatically tossing her hair to look back over her shoulder as she ascended the airstair.
But it wasn’t only the debut of Yitty that Lizzo was promoting; this is a big week for the entertainer, as she gears up to host Saturday Night Live for the first time this weekend, where she will also be the musical guest. And speaking of music, the artist boasted that she’ll be dropping the next “song of the summer” on Thursday, April 14, titled “It’s About Damn Time,” according to People magazine. The unfamiliar track that backed her backside reveal is speculated to be a tease of that single, which will be the first release of an album the singer-songwriter-flautist has reportedly been working on for three years.
As for Yitty, Lizzo’s size-inclusive shapewear line is now available to the public. Shoppers can partake in the label’s colorful and curve-conscious XS to 6X offerings piecemeal or via VIP subscription, similar to the model used by Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty, which is produced by the same parent company.
Maiysha Kai is Lifestyle Editor of theGrio, covering all things Black and beautiful. Her work is informed by two decades’ experience in fashion and entertainment, a love of great books and aesthetics, and the indomitable brilliance of Black culture. She is also a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and editor of the YA anthology Body (Words of Change series).
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