Lizzo is under fire after posting—and then deleting—a TikTok video defending Jay-Z following his mention in newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents. The Grammy-winning singer waded into the controversy by urging fans not to jump to conclusions, but her comments quickly ignited backlash across social media.
In the now-removed video, Lizzo questioned why people were assuming guilt simply because Jay-Z’s name appeared in thousands of pages of federal files tied to Epstein. She argued that being referenced in a massive document dump doesn’t automatically make someone complicit in criminal activity. Lizzo suggested that people were misinterpreting the context and warned against what she described as knee-jerk reactions.
Her remarks didn’t land well with everyone. Critics flooded her comment sections, accusing her of minimizing serious allegations and speaking too soon. Some users pointed to Lizzo’s own legal troubles—including a 2023 lawsuit filed by former dancers alleging sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims—as a reason she should avoid weighing in on other high-profile controversies. Others argued that public figures should be cautious before defending anyone connected, even loosely, to Epstein.
Supporters, however, said Lizzo was simply advocating for critical thinking. They emphasized that the presence of a name in investigative files does not equal proof of wrongdoing. In the batch of documents released by the Justice Department, Jay-Z’s name reportedly appeared in an FBI crisis intake report from 2019 related to an alleged incident dating back to 1996. He has not been charged with any crime in connection to Epstein, and there is no indication of an active case against him tied to the documents.
The report in question references allegations involving multiple high-profile figures, but the claims remain unverified. Legal experts have repeatedly cautioned that many names appear in the Epstein files for a range of reasons, from social associations to secondhand mentions. Jay-Z’s name does not appear in Epstein’s flight logs, a detail that some online commentators have highlighted amid the uproar.
After facing mounting criticism, Lizzo quietly removed the TikTok video without further explanation. The episode underscores how quickly celebrity commentary on sensitive legal matters can spiral online—especially when the subject involves one of the most notorious scandals in recent memory. For now, neither Lizzo nor Jay-Z has issued additional statements addressing the backlash.
