Leave it to Lizzo to take twerking to the next level. The “Tempo” singer delivered a TEDx Talk where she discussed Black culture and the history of twerking.
The 33-year-old singer gave a speech during the TEDMonterey event held on Tuesday, where she informed her audience of why it’s important to not only understand Black culture but that “twerking is more than just a dance,” TEDBlog reported.
In a one-minute preview clip shared to Instagram, the singer began her speech talking about how her butt and the attention it’s received over the years.
“My ass has been the topic of conversation, my ass has been in magazines. Rihanna gave my ass a standing ovation. Yes, my booty. My least favorite part of my body. How did this happen? Twerking,” she said.
“Through the movement of twerking, I discovered my ass is my greatest asset. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to TED twerk,” she continued.
The “Good as Hell” singer interrupted her own speech to remove her heels to get a little more comfortable before digging deeper into the importance of dance within Black culture.
“Black people carry the origins of [twerking] through our DNA, through our blood, through our bones. We made twerking the global cultural phenomenon it has become today. I want to add to the classical etymology of this dance because it matters,” she said.
The clip concludes with Lizzo speaking to the audience and making it clear that she wants credit for her contribution to Black culture and dance.
“From TikTok trends, to songs, and humor, we see so much erasure of what Black people have created. I’m not trying to gatekeep, but I’m definitely trying to let you know who built the damn gate,” Lizzo said.
Some took to Twitter to give the singer her props for an amazing TEDx Talk.
i NEED to watch lizzo's ted talk when it gets released, holy shit.
— ????sarah ann???? #lokispoilers (@autumnsolos) August 5, 2021
Uh, can’t believe I’m saying this but the best TED talk of the day today was @lizzo on the cultural history and significance of Twerking. No seriously. Watch for it soon on TED. com. #TEDMonterey
#TED2021
#Lizzo— Josh Goldman (@VCjosh) August 4, 2021
@lizzo’s TED talk about twerking is everything I didn’t know I needed.
— Elisa Camahort Page (she/her) (@ElisaC) August 4, 2021
First time standing ovation •before• a TED talk by @lizzo
pic.twitter.com/P0Nhb3PQUy— Chris Fralic (@chrisfralic) August 4, 2021
Others weren’t too pleased that Lizzo was given the platform to discuss the art form of twerking.
Lizzo gave a TED Talk about “twerking”, I really hate people bro.
— Swaggy-Sensei (@CNGSwagg) August 5, 2021
they really got lizzo to do a whole TED TALK on twerking bro what in the fuck is wrong wit the whites
— FODIE FOSTER (@eyemightdie) August 5, 2021
Lizzo really did a TED talk on twerking bro….
— ???? (@_Vendettx) August 5, 2021
The full clip of Lizzo’s TEDx Talk is slated to be released this Fall, Huffington Post reported.
The singer also plans to drop her new single titled “Rumors” on Aug. 13 which will be her first single in two years.
