All the rumors are (not) true : the competitive framing of Lizzo's 2023 lawsuits
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Popular music artist Lizzo faced her first public relations crisis when, in August of 2023, news dropped that three of her former dancers filed a lawsuit against her alleging a hostile work environment, harassment, and discrimination. The lawsuits resulted in a media war as journalists and Lizzo's communications team attempted to control the crisis narrative. Drawing from the disciplines of public relations, mass communication, and Black feminism, this thesis employs qualitative textual analysis of 164 texts (n = 164) to uncover how the crisis was positioned within the media during the beginning stages. It also explores how Lizzo attempted to reframe the public narrative around the lawsuits. Lastly, it investigates if and how the competing frames were influenced by Lizzo's intersectional identity as a fat Black woman. Findings suggest that the news media framed Lizzo as a hypocritical, power-hungry boss whose reputation suffered due to the lawsuits. Lizzo attempted to reframe the public's discussion of her lawsuits by highlighting her positive traits and discrediting the former dancers' allegations. The narratives within the competing frames highlight the complexities of intersectionality, and this study builds on prior work in critical public relations focusing on identity, systemic inequity, and intersectional crisis management, while also reiterating the role of the media in shaping public perception of crises.
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M.A.