Lizzo allegations expose flaws in identity politics.

The salacious lawsuit filed​ against mega pop ⁣star Lizzo by several of her ​backup dancers is not only ironic, but ⁤it’s also a reminder that our identities should be defined by personal character, not by how many oppression boxes we check.

The Irony of Lizzo’s Lawsuit

The lawsuit filed last week by Lizzo’s former backup dancers accuses the singer of body shaming and pressuring ⁤them to identity politics.”>perform ⁤grotesque sexual acts at an ​Amsterdam⁢ strip club.⁤ This is ironic because Lizzo has built her brand around being an obese, anti-bullying, vaguely LGBT, racial minority. She‍ has ‍publicly proclaimed ‌”I like ⁢being fat” and dubbed‍ herself a “body icon.”

You ‌might wonder why Lizzo, a popular pop star, would want ​to proclaim herself a “body icon” instead of a “music icon.” But ⁤when​ people like fitness influencer Jillian Michaels point that ⁤out, Lizzo and her fans recoil⁢ because, according to ⁣contemporary ⁢culture,‌ Lizzo’s weight ‌is intrinsically tied to⁣ Lizzo. It’s who she is, not merely an accidental characteristic.

Identity Politics and Lizzo

Obesity is part of ⁤the intersectional coalition of our‍ society’s protected⁣ classes, among⁢ which are⁤ black,‍ Hispanic, indigenous, and LGBT‍ people. That’s ​why Lizzo and other ‍overweight individuals appear proud of⁣ their obesity — a debilitating⁢ condition that can cause heart disease, diabetes, depression, and early death, ⁢among other problems.

To ​be ‍someone of importance in modern society, one has to be able to demonstrate a level of oppression. As a result, Lizzo‍ is constantly reminding us of her race, weight, and‌ supposed ‍LGBT status (she claims⁣ to have a nonconforming sexual orientation even though she ⁣”lean[s] heterosexual”).

Looking Beyond Identity Groups

But the allegations against Lizzo,⁣ whether they⁤ are true or not, serve as a good reminder that all the victimhood boxes Lizzo ‍checks have ⁢no bearing on‌ her personal character. Identity‌ politics emphasizes meaningless⁤ group associations⁢ based on physical⁢ attributes and nonsense concepts like “gender ⁤identity” over⁤ the⁣ individual. Lizzo’s weight and race tell us zilch about who she is as a person. The latter is the real standard we should judge her by, instead of her ​membership in identity groups.

The Destructive⁣ Nature of‌ Identity Politics

The real-world implementations ​of identity politics are ‍always destructive‍ —⁣ just ‍look at‍ affirmative action policies in schools and the workplace. Universities, ‌which will continue ‍to use ⁢racist admissions metrics⁤ despite the recent Supreme Court ruling that struck⁣ down affirmative action, claim that racial diversity promotes a ⁤diversity of opinions and experiences in the classroom. In reality, black,‍ white, and brown people all have widely‍ varied experiences⁣ and accomplishments​ that are completely distinct from their skin color.

Identity⁣ politics doesn’t only hurt society, it also ‍hurts individuals. Just as​ Lizzo​ presents her weight as an integral part of her identity, we⁤ are similarly told that a person suffering from gender dysphoria​ is transgender. According to identity politics,⁢ gender dysphoric people don’t have a mental illness, their ​transgender identity is simply who they are⁣ and must therefore be⁤ affirmed.

A Different⁣ Perspective

Christianity has a different perspective. In Christ,‌ things like your weight or ‍claimed ⁢”gender identity” don’t define ‌you or quantify your value. Obesity is‍ not a badge of honor, but a ⁢human struggle, and instead of letting a sin ​like gluttony define you, Christ beckons you to overcome it⁣ through Him.

As‌ for the racial “intersectional” groups, in Christ,⁣ they are simply inconsequential.‌ God does⁢ not look at Lizzo as a member of the “black community” any more than the “fat community” — He ​sees her for who she is, Melissa Viviane Jefferson (Lizzo’s real name), whom He created.

Looking Beyond ⁤Intersectional ‌Labels

Ultimately, the divisive, poisonous intersectional labels that ⁣Lizzo clings⁢ to have ⁣nothing ‍to do with⁣ the state of her soul or her‍ personal character. Likewise, our membership or non-membership in said groups won’t tell each of us anything‌ about ourselves.

It makes sense that a society that has lost its Christian identity would scramble to find identity in something else. Filling that void with identity politics, however, will only lead to turmoil.

“See what great⁤ love ‌the Father ​has lavished​ on us,⁣ that we should be called children of​ God! And⁣ that is ⁣what we are! The reason ​the world does not know us⁢ is that it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1, NIV)