“Life is worth living”- Lizzo reflects on how a Beyoncé concert kickstarted her healing journey following lawsuit induced depression

Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, is on the hot seat again, this time in the public eye for a far more uplifting reason: recovery. After a tumultuous legal year that put her under a dark cloud of doubt and depression, she credits one electrifying night at a Beyoncé concert as the catalyst that reminded her why “life is worth living.” In a recent Women’s Health cover story, the superstar opened up about the tremendous impact the Renaissance tour had on her mental health.

It wasn’t a generic motivational speech; it was a visceral, almost cinematic moment where the power of live music healed a wound surgery-level deep, stemming from a lawsuit that nearly broke her. Yes, the lawsuit brought down the house… emotionally. But that night in the crowd, among strangers who cheered and embraced her, Lizzo found her spark again. The headline isn’t hyperbole—she really said life is worth living.

How Beyoncé’s concert jump‑started Lizzo’s healing

When asked directly, “How did Beyoncé’s concert help heal your depression induced by the lawsuit?” Lizzo didn’t mince words. In her Women’s Health feature, she chalked it up to a surprisingly tender moment: walking through the Renaissance tour crowd, expecting boos, and instead, being met with love.

“I got very paranoid and isolated,” she confessed ﹘ a line she’d repeat often, pointing to a period where she wasn’t even showing up for therapy﹙the lawsuit left her “not even talking to my therapist”.

But when fans in that arena hugged her, cheered her name, and offered words of kindness, it hit her hard.

“It made me feel like, ‘Wow, maybe I don't want to die. Life is worth living,’” she shared, describing it as a “kick‑starter” to reclaim her life.

Beyoncé even gave her a cameo on stage during “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix),” calling out her name live—an emotional full‑circle moment for Lizzo, who grew up on Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child. She later posted on Instagram about that night, remembering the little girl she once was:

“baby me… crying myself to sleep because of bullies. It’s an honor. Thank you @beyonce.”

That public shout‑out secured the moment as a turning point in Lizzo’s mental health narrative. Since then, she’s leaned into music, wellness, and therapy—and thrown herself into a brand‑new album, Love in Real Life—all rooted in the belief that she still “matters.”

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The lawsuit that triggered Lizzo’s descent into depression

The legal battles began in August 2023, when three of Lizzo’s former backup dancers filed a lawsuit accusing her of sexual harassment, weight‑shaming, and fostering a hostile work environment. A few weeks later, a former stylist came forward with similar allegations. Lizzo has vehemently denied all claims, calling them “false” and “outrageous,” and is actively appealing parts of the case.

The public storm wasn’t just legal—it was emotional. Lizzo described herself in interviews as “paranoid and isolated,” unrecognizable even to herself, unconnected to her support systems, and unwilling to speak with her therapist. She admitted reaching a crisis point:

“It got to the point where I was like, ‘I could die.’” Although she clarified she never planned to take her life, those thoughts haunted her mind.

In March at a sold‑out show in Los Angeles, she went public on stage with how low she’d fallen: “I was so heartbroken by the world… I didn't want to live anymore,” she told the crowd. During the same show, she recounted a life‑saving moment at a Beyoncé concert where a fellow fan reached out and said, “Lizzo, I love you,” and they hugged in front of the crowd—an encounter she called “life‑saving”.

A judge dismissed several claims in late 2024, though some still await resolution. Lizzo continues to fight them, stating that portions infringe on her First Amendment rights. Despite the ongoing courtroom drama, her focus today is on healing, grounded in therapy, creative reinvention, and real‑life connection—less screen, more soul.

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Ultimately, this isn’t just a feel‑good turnaround tale—it’s testimony to the healing power of connection, music, and genuine support. Lizzo’s journey from depression to rediscovery shows us that even the biggest stars can tip into the void…and find their way out, often with a little help from Beyoncé, therapy, and the kindness of strangers.

As Love In Real Life readies to drop, her message is loud and clear: no matter how deep the lawsuit‑induced depression, sometimes all it takes is one concert—one hug—to spark a lifeline. After all, Lizzo is proof that with the right beat and crowd, life is undeniably worth living