Lizzo Addresses 'Truth Hurts' Plagiarism Claims
Lizzo is sharing her historic success.
While “Truth Hurts” remains No. 1 for a seventh week on the Billboard Hot 100, the rapper is denying claims that she plagiarized the “100% that bitch” verse and has given songwriting credit to Mina Lioness, whose 2017 tweet inspired the line and became a popular meme.
Songwriter and producer brothers Justin and Jeremiah Raisen claimed that Lizzo was present during a writing session for a song they wrote in 2017 called “Healthy,” which included the line, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch.” They acknowledged that Lioness’ tweet inspired the lyrics and posted video showing comparisons between “Healthy” and “Truth Hurts.”
“We’ve tried to sort this out quietly for the last two years, only asking for 5% each but were shutdown every time,” wrote Justin.
Now Lizzo is breaking her silence. In a statement released on Twitter Wednesday, she said that the brothers had nothing to do with “Truth Hurts,” and that producer Ricky Reed was the only other person present when she wrote the song.
“The men who now claim a piece of Truth Hurts did not help me write any part of the song,” she wrote. “They had nothing to do with the line or how I chose to sing it. There was no one in the room when I wrote Truth Hurts, except me, Ricky Reed, and my tears. That song is my life, and its words are my truth.”
— #STREAMTRUTHHURTS (@lizzo) October 23, 2019
But she did give credit to Lioness, whose 2017 tweet (“I did a DNA test and found out I’m 100% that bitch”) inspired her “Truth Hurts” lyrics. “The creator of the tweet is the person I am sharing my success with…not these men. Period,” she wrote.
Lioness thanked Lizzo and her management team for “embracing” her and reaching out. “I just took a DNA Test, turns out I’m a credited writer for the number one song on Billboard,” she tweeted.
I did a DNA test and found out I'm 100% that bitch.
— Legendina (@MinaLioness) February 25, 2017
I just took a DNA Test, turns out I’m a credited writer for the number one song on Billboard.
— Legendina (@MinaLioness) October 23, 2019
I want to publicly thank @Lizzo and her entire managment team for embracing me and reaching out.
— Legendina (@MinaLioness) October 23, 2019
Meanwhile, Lizzo is taking legal action against the three songwriters—Justin, Jeremiah, and Yves Rothman— asking a judge to deny their copyright claims on “Truth Hurts.” She says Justin and his brother, Jeremiah, have acknowledged in writing that they have no claim to “Truth,” and therefore have no right to share in the song’s profits.