Lizzo Accepts Humanitarian Award Amid New Lawsuit: ‘I Needed This Right Now’

Keke Palmer, Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Doechii, Chanté Moore, Flavor Flav and more Black musicians and creatives gathered at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday for the Black Music Action Coalition Gala, where pop star Lizzo accepted the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award.

Lizzo skipped the event's Black carpet, instead opting to sit alongside her peers at the gala. According to Variety, BMAC showed a video montage of her philanthropic efforts for LGBTQ+ groups, Planned Parenthood and more. Lizzo then took the stage to accept the award surrounded by her dancers, the Big Grrrls and Big Boiis.

"Black Music Action Coalition, y'all really are about that action," she said, per the publication. "Thank you so much for this, because I needed this right now. God's timing is always on time!"

The award comes hours after the "Truth Hurts" singer was hit with a second lawsuit. Several of her former employees, including three dancers, are suing Lizzo and her team with allegations of racial and sexual harassment, weight shaming, assault and more. The pop star has denied the allegations and announced plans to countersue.

Lizzo teared up as she subtly acknowledged her legal woes and fractured public perception. "I didn't write a speech because I don't know what to say in times like these," she said.

She shared that she donated a quarter of a million dollars to Black-led organizations back in June. "It's easy to do the right thing when everybody's watching you, and it's what you do in those moments when nobody's watching that defines who you are," she said. "And I'm going to continue to be who I am, no matter who's watching. I'm going to continue to shine a light on the people who are helping people, because they deserve it. I'm going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it."

Lizzo concluded the speech with a pledge: "And, I'm going to continue to put on and represent safe spaces for fat Black women, because that's what the f--- I do!"