Lizzo shows off dramatic weight-loss in swimsuit and reveals she's taking 'gap year' after year of legal woes

Lizzo showed off her weight loss and revealed she is taking a gap year in a candid new Instagram post - months after facing multiple lawsuits.

The singer, 36, who shocked fans when she appeared to quit the music industry in March, slipped into a swimsuit as she stood on a a balcony in the rain in Bali while reflecting on her life.

The star - whose last album Special was released in 2022,wrote: 'I'm taking a gap year and protecting my peace [prayer emoji] (sic).'

Earlier this year, Lizzo seemingly announced her exit from the music business.

The Truth Hurts hitmaker admitted that she had grown tired of 'being the butt of the joke'.

She wrote on Instagram in March: 'I'm getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet. All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I'm starting to feel like the world doesn't want me in it.

'I'm constantly up against lies being told about me for clout and views … being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look. My character being picked apart by people who don't know me and disrespecting my name. I didn't sign up for this s***. (sic)'

However, Lizzo later clarified that she wasn't quitting the music industry.

She said: 'I quit giving any negative energy attention. What I'm not gonna quit, is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting the people, 'cause I know I'm not alone.'

Last year in August, the music artist was notably sued by three of her ex-dancers - Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez - who accused her of sexual harassment as well as creating a hostile work environment. 

The ex-dancers had also accused Lizzo in the lawsuit filed in August of weight-shaming and claimed that they were forced to touch a nude performer while at a strip club in Amsterdam. 

The filing stated that the trio also accused the Truth Hurts hitmaker of allegedly 'inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers,' inside the club. 

The star, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, allegedly encouraged 'catching dildos launched from the performers' vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers' vaginas.' 

According to NBC News at the time, the dancers' lawyer, Ron Zambrano, expressed, 'The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly.'

He continued, 'While privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.'

In the lawsuit, accusations and claims were listed in detail, including the Amsterdam club incident. Lizzo has denied all the allegations.

The appearance follows Lizzo's recent health journey, where the body positivity trailblazer now embraces 'body neutrality.'

'The idea of body positivity, it’s moved away from the antiquated mainstream conception,' she told The New York Times in March. 'It’s evolved into body neutrality.' 

She has celebrated her body through her lyrics and shared affirmations to her stomach on Instagram. 

However, she confessed to the New York Times that achieving self-love isn't always attainable. 

'I’m not going to lie and say I love my body every day,' she said. 'The bottom line is, the way you feel about your body changes every single day. 

'There are some days I adore my body, and others when I don’t feel completely positive. 

Since wrapping up her Special Tour, Lizzo shared with the outlet that she has shifted her focus to maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. 

'I’m taking the time every day to put some love into my body,' she said. 'There is never a day when I regret taking a walk or doing some Pilates.'

'I’ve been methodical, losing weight very slowly,' she added.