Lizzo celebrates Tennessee show by bringing on drag performers – despite state’s anti-drag law

Lizzo made a statement Friday, as she began her second leg The Special 2our with a show in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 34-year-old Juice hitmaker took the stage and brought a number of drag performers to her show.

This is despite the state’s drag ban, which prohibits “adult cabaret entertainment” on public land or in locations where it can be viewed by a minor.

The law has since been temporarily blocked by a federal judge in the state.

Speaking to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Lizzo said, “In light of recent and tragic events and current events, I was told by people on the internet, ‘Cancel your shows in Tennessee, ‘Don’t go to Tennessee,’ .”

“Their reason was valid, but why not come to the people who need this message the most? The people who need this release the most?

“Why not create a safe space in Tennessee where we can celebrate drag entertainers and celebrate our differences and celebrate fat black women?”

She also told the crowd, “What people in Tennessee do is give hope, so thank you so much for standing up for your rights, protecting each other, and holding accountable the people who are supposed to protect us.”

She emphasized her commitment to performing on Friday’s show.

“I hope I can help you in any way, because you’ve helped me so, so much you don’t even understand,” Lizzo told the Knoxville crowd.

Lizzo shared highlights from the show on her Instagram, writing, “THANK YOU TO THESE WONDERFUL DRAG QUEENS FOR SHOWING THEIR PRIDE IN TENNESSE.”

Among the drag performers who took the stage were several who have competed in RuPaul’s Drag Race, including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kandy Muse, and Vanessa Vanjie.

Commonly known as the Tennessee Drag Ban, the new law bans “adult cabaret entertainment” on public land or in locations where it can be viewed by a minor — the term is defined as “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers’. , male or female impersonators.’

It was signed into law by GOP Governor Bill Lee in March, but a federal judge in Tennessee temporarily blocked its implementation, citing First Amendment problems.

The Volunteer State is the first to pass such a law.

Lizzo is no stranger to standing up for what she believes in.

Last week, she hit back at an internet troll who tried to shame her after a nude photo the singer shared on Instagram in 2021 resurfaced.

Lizzo shared the post, an unedited photo without any clothing, as part of a social media campaign for self-esteem.

But as it made the rounds on Twitter again, a fan tweeted a photo of herself next to Lizzo’s, trying to shame her by asking “me or Lizzo?”

Many fans seemed to backfire and rallied to support the singer, simply responding with her name instead of the troll’s.

And it seemed that Lizzo herself was eager to cast her vote by simply tweeting her own name as the drama unfolded.

The photo started circulating on Twitter again after two years when a user shared part of an article saying that Lizzo was “changing beauty standards” and wrote above, “Thanks, but my beauty standards remain unchanged.”

This reaction spurred many other trolls to also take a look at the singer, who has spoken proudly about being plus size.

But it was the comparison tweet that seemed to go viral, with the user posting a photo of herself next to the nude and asking who the public preferred.

In a counterproductive effect, many took to the reply section to show their support for Lizzo, with one replying, “Lizzo every day,” while another added, “Every and EVERY day.”

‘Lizzo. Gal has talents,” added a third.

And in a tweet that seemed too well timed to be a coincidence, the hitmaker himself tweeted “Lizzo.”

Hilariously, this prompted a slew of brands to tweet their own names — including Kikkoman USA’s official page, which wrote, “Soy sauce.”

PAC-MAN Official, Minions, Elmo and Crumbl Cookies were among the other brands that competed.