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Lizzo Addresses Bitch Albums Chart Failure and the Khia Asylum Meme
When Lizzo’s fifth studio album, Bitch, hit shelves on June 5 2026, it failed to crack the Billboard 200. In a candid interview with the Swiftologist on the Proto Pop podcast, the singer‑rapper unpacked the disappointment and turned the spotlight onto the Khia Asylum meme.
First‑week sales hovered at just 2,649 copies, a steep decline from the 39,000 units that Special opened with in 2022. The result left Bitch off the Billboard 200, marking the first time since 2015’s Big Grrrl Small World that a Lizzo release missed the main chart. Billboard reports that the album only made it onto component charts in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hungary.
Lizzo admitted that seeing the numbers left her “really stressed and I was really sad for a few days.” She insisted, however, that Bitch ranks among her strongest efforts and urged herself to “shake it off” and press onward. “You have to keep going,” she said, underscoring her resolve to return to the studio and keep creating.
Co‑written and co‑produced with Ricky Reed, Blake Slatkin, Pop Wansel, Cheche Alara, and Nate Mercereau, the record weaves R&B, hip‑hop, pop, synth‑funk, and soul. Two singles—“Don’t Make Me Love U” (March 20 2026) and the title track “Bitch” (May 1 2026)—pre‑dated the release. Critics’ reactions were mixed: some praised the polished production and nostalgic nods, while others pointed to a perceived lack of focus and dated lyricism.
Lizzo’s catalog has consistently blended chart‑climbing hits with critical praise. Cuz I Love You (2019) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and secured three Grammy Awards, while Special (2022) climbed to number two and yielded the Grammy‑winning single “About Damn Time.” Bitch marks a notable shift from that upward trajectory.
The conversation shifted to the Khia Asylum meme, a trend that began with rapper Khia, famed for her 2002 single “My Neck, My Back (Lick It).” On X (formerly Twitter), the meme is deployed to “banish” pop stars deemed unsuccessful. The Swiftologist observed that the meme largely targets women—particularly Black women—and noted that “there are no men in the Khia Asylum,” despite many male artists who could qualify. Lizzo echoed that the label is aimed at women, citing Khia as a key example.
Lizzo’s remarks underscore the meme’s gendered focus and feed into a wider industry debate over how success is quantified and debated. Even as Bitch underperformed, she reiterated her resilience and commitment to keep producing music.
In short, Bitch failed to enter the Billboard 200, moving 2,649 units in its opening week. Lizzo confronted the setback head‑on, emphasizing the need to press on. She also shed light on the Khia Asylum meme, highlighting its concentration on Black women in pop. The album’s commercial performance and the ensuing discussion illustrate persistent debates over success metrics and gender dynamics within the music business.
First‑week sales hovered at just 2,649 copies, a steep decline from the 39,000 units that Special opened with in 2022. The result left Bitch off the Billboard 200, marking the first time since 2015’s Big Grrrl Small World that a Lizzo release missed the main chart. Billboard reports that the album only made it onto component charts in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hungary.
Lizzo admitted that seeing the numbers left her “really stressed and I was really sad for a few days.” She insisted, however, that Bitch ranks among her strongest efforts and urged herself to “shake it off” and press onward. “You have to keep going,” she said, underscoring her resolve to return to the studio and keep creating.
Co‑written and co‑produced with Ricky Reed, Blake Slatkin, Pop Wansel, Cheche Alara, and Nate Mercereau, the record weaves R&B, hip‑hop, pop, synth‑funk, and soul. Two singles—“Don’t Make Me Love U” (March 20 2026) and the title track “Bitch” (May 1 2026)—pre‑dated the release. Critics’ reactions were mixed: some praised the polished production and nostalgic nods, while others pointed to a perceived lack of focus and dated lyricism.
Lizzo’s catalog has consistently blended chart‑climbing hits with critical praise. Cuz I Love You (2019) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and secured three Grammy Awards, while Special (2022) climbed to number two and yielded the Grammy‑winning single “About Damn Time.” Bitch marks a notable shift from that upward trajectory.
The conversation shifted to the Khia Asylum meme, a trend that began with rapper Khia, famed for her 2002 single “My Neck, My Back (Lick It).” On X (formerly Twitter), the meme is deployed to “banish” pop stars deemed unsuccessful. The Swiftologist observed that the meme largely targets women—particularly Black women—and noted that “there are no men in the Khia Asylum,” despite many male artists who could qualify. Lizzo echoed that the label is aimed at women, citing Khia as a key example.
Lizzo’s remarks underscore the meme’s gendered focus and feed into a wider industry debate over how success is quantified and debated. Even as Bitch underperformed, she reiterated her resilience and commitment to keep producing music.
In short, Bitch failed to enter the Billboard 200, moving 2,649 units in its opening week. Lizzo confronted the setback head‑on, emphasizing the need to press on. She also shed light on the Khia Asylum meme, highlighting its concentration on Black women in pop. The album’s commercial performance and the ensuing discussion illustrate persistent debates over success metrics and gender dynamics within the music business.