AceShowbiz - Lizzo recently leveraged a video by Chris Brown in a surprising way to promote her upcoming album Bitch. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the singer shared a cleverly edited version of a clip originally posted by Brown on his Instagram Story the day before. The original video featured Brown responding to criticism of his latest album, Brown, with a pointed statement telling non-fans to “go listen to motherf-king Zara Larsson or somebody.”

In Lizzo’s altered version, the first few seconds of Brown’s rant play before cutting to a still photo of his face, but with Lizzo’s eyes and mouth digitally superimposed. The manipulated video then has Lizzo’s voice, pitched down, saying, “Pre-order Lizzo’s album Bitch coming out June 5 or something,” right after the original Brown clip says, “Go listen to motherf-king ...”

The caption accompanying the post read, “I CANT BELIEVE CHRIS BROWN SAID THIS?????” — a clearly tongue-in-cheek message highlighting the humor behind the promotional stunt. Lizzo used the viral nature of Brown’s controversial video to generate buzz around her own album release scheduled for early June.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for Chris Brown for comment regarding Lizzo’s post but has not yet received a response. Meanwhile, the incident highlights the ongoing complicated relationship the public holds with Brown, who remains a polarizing figure in the music world.

Lizzo has openly admired Chris Brown for years. Notably, in 2021, she faced some backlash after stopping Brown backstage at the Millennium Tour to ask for a photo, describing him as her “favorite person in the whole f-king world.” Despite her fandom, she has now cleverly used his own words to draw attention to her work.

Chris Brown’s career has been shadowed by serious legal and personal controversies, especially his 2009 felony assault conviction for attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna. More recently, in May 2025, he was arrested in Manchester on charges related to an alleged 2023 nightclub assault in London. Brown pleaded not guilty and was released on $6.75 million bail in June, with a trial scheduled for October 26, 2026.

The jab at Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson from Brown’s video appears to be a direct response to Larsson’s February 2026 Cosmopolitan interview, where she stated she had blocked numerous artists on Spotify, including those she labeled as “abusers,” explicitly naming Brown. This public call-out further intensified criticism of Brown’s new album, which was released on May 8, 2026.

Music critics have been largely unimpressed with Brown’s Brown album. Pitchfork’s Alphonse Pierre described it as “soulless, hit-chasing music” that holds little appeal outside of fans invested in the ongoing “Chris Brown culture wars.” Nevertheless, Brown stood firm in his video, declaring, “I don’t give a f-k what these n-as is talkin’ about. I know exactly who my fans is and I know exactly who hearing this album.”

By repurposing Brown’s contentious message into a promotional tool, Lizzo has demonstrated her savvy in navigating the complex music landscape and social media trends. Her playful use of the clip not only stirred conversation but also generated additional excitement for her album release less than a month away.

Fans and followers can expect Lizzo’s new album Bitch to drop on June 5, 2026, with pre-orders currently available. This incident underscores the unpredictable ways artists today interact and respond to each other’s work in the digital age.