Lizzo Delivered a Powerful Speech About Suppression and Voting at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards

Lizzo used her time on stage at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards to deliver a powerful speech about suppression and the importance of voting.

By
published
in News

  • At the 2020 Billboard Music Awards Wednesday night, Lizzo took home the trophy for Top Song Sales Artist.
  • Lizzo used her time on stage at the live show to deliver a powerful speech about suppression and the importance of voting.
  • The singer also wore a black dress covered in the word "vote" to drive the message home.

Lizzo took home the award for the Top Song Sales Artist at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday night. The singer used her time on stage at the event to deliver a powerful speech about the ongoing problem of suppression of many people's voices and the importance of voting. She doubled down on the message with her fashion choice for the night—a black dress covered in the word "vote" in bold, white letters.

In her speech, Lizzo said:

"Thank you to Atlantic. Thank you to Team Lizzo. Thank you to everyone who listened to my music and supported me. I just want to say, I've been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refused to be suppressed. And I wonder, would I be standing here right now if it weren't for the big Black women who refuse to have their voices be suppressed? And I just want to say right now, if you're at home watching this and you are thinking about changing yourself to feel worthy, this is your sign to remain true to who you are. Let me tell you something: When people try to suppress something, it's normally because that thing holds power. They're afraid of your power. There's power in who you are. There's power in your voice. So whether it's through music, protest, or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice and refuse to be suppressed."

Watch Lizzo's full speech below:

Kayleigh Roberts
Contributing Editor at Marie Claire

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.