Lizzo made history by playing a 200-year-old crystal flute once owned by former President James Madison during a Tuesday night concert that was part of The Special Tour.
- READ MORE: Lizzo plays a 200-year-old crystal flute borrowed from the Library of Congress at recent concert
But since she surprised her fans by playing the historic flute borrowed from the Library of Congress, a slew of Republicans have blasted the pop superstar. In response, many Lizzo supporters are arguing that these right-wing pundits’ criticisms are rooted in fatphobia and racism.
Investigative journalist Eric Hananoki tweeted a bit from “The Jenna Ellis Show” criticizing Lizzo, “Jenna Ellis -- who is Doug Mastriano’s senior adviser -- claimed yesterday that Lizzo ‘is basically famous, I think, for being one the most morbidly obese people in the world’ and said of the Madison flute playing: ‘This is just desecration purposefully of America’s history.’”
“I could cry over how nasty and ugly and cruel people are to Lizzo. Not like she cares but because it means we are irredeemable. Just horrible people who made a horrible culture,” Tressie McMillan Cottom, a professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and New York Times columnist, responded to Hananoki’s tweet.
Mastriano’s senior adviser is only one of many conservatives blasting Lizzo.
“Simply desecrating American history just for the sake of it,” Matt Walsh tweeted, adding, “[It sends a] message that our heritage and history are meaningless and that nothing we love or care about has any value.”
The Daily Wire editor Ben Shapiro posted, “This Lizzo-flute controversy is a perfect example of what I have termed Face Tattoo Phenomenon…the phenomenon whereby someone does something deliberately controversial in an attempt to draw attention, and then acts offended when you notice.”
Nevertheless, Lizzo is very proud of the moment, tweeting, “NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE NOW YOU HAVE IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE— THANK YOU @librarycongress.”
However, according to NPR in 2001, at least one other flautist has played the centuries-old instrument.
The Library of Congress also tweeted, “We just did a DNA test. Turns out: It’s 100% that [crystal] flute @lizzo played at her D.C. stop on the #SpecialTour tonight. It’s safe & sound back at the Library now. Thank you @CapitolPolice for escorting it. Watch this space for more from Lizzo’s Library visit. #LizzoAtLOC.”
Library of Congress confirmed a French flute maker made the instrument in honor of Madison following his second inauguration in 1813.
Watch Inside Edition’s coverage of Lizzo playing the centuries-old crystal flute:
Read more about the controversy via Variety.
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