Dripping in gold, Lizzo opened the BET Awards last night with a performance of her new hit “About Damn Time” after making this announcement on social media on Saturday:
I’m pledging $500k from my upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Rights. Live Nation agreed to match— to make it 1 MILLION dollars
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo)June 24, 2022
She also encouraged her followers to sign petitions and volunteer:
Black women & women of color have historically had disproportionately less access to family planning resources— this is a great loss but not a new one.
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo)June 24, 2022
Go tohttps://t.co/aOSkRmpzLeto donate, sign the Bans Off My Body petition and sign up to volunteer and take action.
And reminded them to keep up this energy – because while Friday’s SCOTUS decision was a major setback, there are still many other ways to fight.
The most important thing is action & loud voices.@PPFA@AbortionFunds& organizations like them— will need funding to continue offering services to people who are most harmed by this ban
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo)June 24, 2022
Part of the fight involves keeping the conversation current. Talking about it all the time, reminding people of the f-ckery that’s been happening, and what they can do about it. This is why Taraji, also dressed in gold, during her opening monologue, after acknowledging that the event was in celebration of Black excellence, shouted out the excellence of Lizzo’s philanthropy and used “About Damn Time” to call out the injustice:
“It’s about damn time we step into our power. It’s about damn time that we talk about the fact that guns have more power than women. It’s a sad day in America. A weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman who can give life… IF she chooses to.”
Like so many people around the world, Lizzo and Taraji are mad. Let’s stay mad. But you can be mad and still serve looks. Both served multiple looks with Taraji hosting and Lizzo changing up from the red carpet to performance and then another in the audience. I LOVE Lizzo’s midnight blue sparkle and feather boudoir gown for arrivals. And my favourite of Taraji’s looks is the floral jumpsuit with the white wings.
I actually wish she wore that on the carpet instead of the grey.
