Lizzo Sued Over Unreleased Song Sample

It looks like Lizzo is in hot water over an unreleased song! The Grammy-winning artist is being sued for copyright infringement. The lawsuit centers around a snippet of a song she shared online, which allegedly samples a 1970s soul track without proper authorization.

The Song and the Sample

The track in question, which has not been commercially released, gained attention over the summer when Lizzo posted snippets on TikTok and Instagram. What made it particularly buzzworthy was a line referencing actress Sydney Sweeney and her controversial American Eagle commercial. In the song, Lizzo rapped, “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney,” a play on the commercial’s tagline about Sweeney having “good jeans.”

However, the core of the lawsuit isn’t about the celebrity shout-out. Attorneys for GRC Trust claim that Lizzo used an unauthorized sample of “Win or Lose (We Tried),” a groovy R&B song written by Sam Dees back in the 1970s. This alleged unauthorized use is what has prompted the legal action.

The Lawsuit’s Claims

GRC Trust is seeking damages, arguing that Lizzo “obtained profits they would not have realized but for their infringement” of the song. They state that their attempts to resolve the dispute informally with Lizzo’s representatives were unsuccessful, leading them to file the lawsuit. The Trust is also requesting an injunction to prevent any further distribution of the song.

Lizzo’s Response

A representative for Lizzo expressed surprise at the lawsuit, stating, “To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetized, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song.” This suggests that the artist’s team may not have viewed the leaked snippet as a commercial release that would trigger infringement claims.

• Lizzo is being sued for copyright infringement.
• The lawsuit involves an unreleased song featuring a sample of a 1970s track.
• The song also references actress Sydney Sweeney.
• GRC Trust claims lost profits and is seeking an injunction and financial settlement.
• Lizzo’s team states the song was not commercially released or monetized.