Lizzo's thong outfit at basketball game sparks debate about ‘fatphobic’ body standards

Lizzo‘s choice of attire at a recent basketball game has sparked a debate about the prevalence of “fatphobic” body standards.

On Sunday evening, the rapper and singer attended a match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Centre, Los Angeles.

During a break in the game, the Lakers’ female dancers performed a routine to Lizzo’s hit song “Juice”, prompting the musician to dance along.

While dancing, Lizzo turned around, revealing a cut-out section at the back of her shirt dress that showed her thong.

The 31-year-old has received both adulation and derogatory comments about her outfit, with several people stating that the backlash she has received is symptomatic of fatphobia.

“I love to see the fatphobia come out whenever Lizzo dares to transgress whatever boxes fat people are supposed to be confined in. If there’s one thing in life that’s consistent, it’s fatphobic people,” one supporter tweeted.

“Lizzo was right. You all are fatphobic. Rihanna would’ve been dubbed ‘iconic’ for wearing that dress,” another wrote.

Some argued that they simply found Lizzo’s outfit inappropriate for the occasion, regardless of her size.

“Y’all turn people’s inappropriateness into a thinkpiece every time,” someone remarked. “I, a fat woman, am NOT fatphobic for thinking Lizzo’s ass out at a basketball game was a bit much.”

Nonetheless, several people stated that finding Lizzo’s ensemble inappropriate and being fatphobic are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

“The fact that Lizzo’s outfit was inappropriate doesn’t change the fact that many of you are indeed fatphobic,” one person said.

In a video shared on her Instagram Story, in which Lizzo is filmed walking while wearing the cut-out shirt dress, the rapper said: “This is how a bad bitch goes to the Lakers game.”

After the Timberwolves tweeted a photograph of the musician taken at the basketball game, she retweeted it with the caption: “HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE.”

The “Good As Hell” rapper recently opened up about how the lack of size-inclusive media representation had a negative impact on her mental health throughout her childhood.

While speaking with British Vogue for the magazine’s December issue, the cover star explained that she never saw herself represented when watching television or perusing magazines.

“When you don’t see yourself, you start to think something’s wrong with you,” she said.

“I think that took a greater toll on me, psychologically, growing up than what anyone could have said to me.”