Lizzo tried to copy Sydney Sweeney’s viral denim ad — and turned herself into a walking meme.

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In the age of viral fashion and social media micro-controversies, even denim can start a culture war. That’s exactly what happened this week when pop superstar Lizzo debuted a denim photo shoot seemingly inspired by Sydney Sweeney’s wildly popular American Eagle campaign — and instantly found herself in the center of a social media storm.

The intent behind the shoot appeared noble: promote body positivity, challenge conventional beauty standards, and add Lizzo’s signature twist to the classic all-American denim aesthetic. But the execution? According to many online critics, it missed the mark — badly.

What was meant to be a confident celebration of self-love quickly turned into what some are calling a “fashion misfire” and “desperate attempt to ride a trend that wasn’t hers to begin with.”

A Viral Denim Moment — and Its Shadow

Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad, which dropped last month, was hailed for its effortless throwback vibes and nostalgic Y2K styling. Wearing low-rise jeans and a vintage-inspired crop top, the Euphoria star captured the imagination of fans and fashion commentators alike, with many praising the campaign for being “confident, classic, and unapologetically sexy.”

So when Lizzo — known for her outspoken confidence and boundary-pushing style — released her own denim shoot days later, the comparisons were inevitable. The problem? They weren’t flattering.

On X (formerly Twitter), users didn’t hold back.

“This isn’t empowerment. This is cosplay gone wrong,” one viral tweet read, gathering over 120,000 likes.

Another user wrote, “Sydney was the moment. Lizzo just tried to hijack it.”

The backlash, which came swiftly and harshly, centered around claims that Lizzo’s shoot looked forced, inauthentic, and overly performative — lacking the natural ease that made Sweeney’s campaign resonate.

Critics Accuse Lizzo of “Chasing the Trend”

It’s not the first time a celebrity has tried to piggyback on a viral moment. But with Lizzo, whose brand has long centered around authenticity and self-love, the public seemed less forgiving this time.

“She didn’t need to do this,” said pop culture analyst Jordan Reaves. “Lizzo already has a powerful platform and unique aesthetic. But trying to replicate someone else’s viral success — especially someone with such a different style and public image — just came across as disingenuous.”

Many fans were also confused by the timing. Sweeney’s campaign was still trending across social media when Lizzo’s version dropped, leading some to speculate whether the release was a rushed attempt to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital spotlight.

Even some longtime supporters expressed discomfort.

“I love Lizzo, but this didn’t feel like her,” one fan commented on Instagram. “It felt like she was trying to prove something to people who never needed convincing.”

Others Come to Lizzo’s Defense

Still, not everyone joined the pile-on.

Supporters of Lizzo defended her right to reinterpret fashion in her own way, accusing critics of perpetuating fatphobia and holding plus-size women to unfair aesthetic standards.

“Why is it okay when a thin white actress wears low-rise jeans, but when Lizzo does it, it’s called ‘cringe’ or ‘embarrassing’?” one supporter posted. “That double standard is exactly why we need women like Lizzo pushing boundaries.”

Fashion writer Tamika Jones echoed that sentiment in an op-ed for The Cut, stating:

“Lizzo’s version wasn’t supposed to be Sydney Sweeney’s. It was supposed to be Lizzo’s — bold, loud, and proud. But the internet isn’t always kind to Black women who take up space unapologetically.”

Indeed, much of the discourse veered into deeper debates about race, body image, and who gets to define what’s beautiful or worthy of celebration in American pop culture.

Lizzo Remains Silent — For Now

As of Friday morning, Lizzo has not addressed the backlash publicly. Her team declined to comment, and her Instagram remains free of any mention of the controversy.

It’s a rare moment of silence for the singer, who’s known for engaging directly with both fans and critics. Whether that silence is strategic or signals something deeper is anyone’s guess.

Some insiders believe she’s waiting for the moment to pass. Others think she may respond with a full statement — or, knowing Lizzo, a song.

“She’s too smart not to have seen this coming,” said Reaves. “If there’s one thing Lizzo knows, it’s how to turn criticism into content.”

A Bigger Conversation

The denim drama, while surface-level on its face, has exposed deeper undercurrents in today’s media landscape — from who’s allowed to “own” a look, to how quickly public opinion can shift based on something as simple as a photo shoot.

It also reinforces how unforgiving the internet can be when it senses even a hint of inauthenticity — especially from celebrities whose brand is built on being real.

In the end, perhaps Lizzo’s biggest mistake wasn’t the jeans or the pose — but the timing. In trying to match a viral cultural moment, she walked into a comparison battle she couldn’t win.

And while Sydney Sweeney is still riding the high of a career-defining campaign, Lizzo is left navigating a lesson every celebrity learns eventually: the internet is always watching, and it rarely forgets.