Lizzo responds to claims she shelved her original album

Lizzo has rubbished reports that she scrapped her original project, Love in Real Life.

The singer was speaking to Billboard on May 27 when she issued the clarifiecation, explaining that her new album, titled BITCH, is actually the same record. She said the only major change was the title even though in September 2025 she had told Vulture that the project “just wasn't what I was feeling right now.” Fans had believed the album was cancelled.

“I think the biggest misconception about my album is that I shelved Love in Real Life when I didn't,” Lizzo has now clarified in a recent statement. “BITCH is technically the same album. I just changed the name. The music is the same.”

Now, the 38-year-old singer says changing the title completely changed the energy of the album. “When you change the name of something, it changes its destiny,” said Lizzo. “Like, when I went from Melissa to Lizzo, it changed my destiny.”

The Grammy winner also explained that Love in Real Life originally had a more emotional and reflective tone and described the newer version, BITCH, as stronger, more confident and more fearless.

Lizzo also said both she and the world have changed since she first started working on the album in 2022. “I do think that I feel like I can express myself the way that I want to express myself right now through BITCH. I think Love in Real Life was really somber and a little bit more introspective, and I think BITCH is a little bit more empowered and self-actualised and bold”.

The singer officially announced BITCH in April while celebrating her 38th birthday.

At the time, Lizzo said she wanted to reclaim the word “bitch” and turn it into something positive and empowering for women.

Her new album BITCH is scheduled for release on June 5.