An Award-Winning Author Asked to Borrow Lizzo’s Emmy Dress on TikTok and Lizzo Delivers
Lizzo is feeling good as hell these days, and she has no qualms about sharing the good vibes—and even the clothes off her back. When award-winning poet and storyteller Aurielle Marie posted a TikTok pleading with the pop star to lend the red tulle Giambattista Valli gown the singer wore to the 2022 Emmys, Lizzo didn’t give paying it forward a second thought.
Last year, Marie published their debut book, Gumbo Ya Ya, a collection of poems that explores, in their words, “what it’s like to grow up fat, Black and queer in the South.” The book won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry and Marie was named 2022 Georgia Author of the Year in the Poetry Full-Length Book category.
When they learned they had also been selected as one of Out Magazine’s “Out100 2022: LGBTQ+ Literary and Publishing Stars,” they realized they needed something to wear to the awards ceremony. Enter Lizzo.
“The audacity that you’ve marked in your career has helped me step out and be audacious myself,” Marie said in the TikTok posting.
“I figured the worst thing you could say is ‘no.’ I hope you don’t, though!” Marie said, ending their video with a plea for interactions and shares to get their message to the pop star.
While Lizzo didn’t send Marie her 2022 Emmys gown (she said in a TikTok that she accidentally destroyed the dress in her celebratory haste), she did send the poet the magenta tulle Dominique Galbraith gown she wore to the 2019 American Music Awards.
“I had to think and I had to think fast. My AMAs dress was very similar to my Emmys dress and just as cute, honestly,” Lizzo said in a TikTok. “So I found it in my storage, I got it cleaned and shipped it out!”
When Marie received the dress, they shared another TikTok showing off the look.
It’s perhaps an unsurprising move from the singer, as Lizzo’s brand promotes self-love, body positivity and acceptance. She’s known for her generosity with fans and organizations that align with her values alike.
Earlier this week, Lizzo was nominated for six 2023 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year (for “About Damn Time”), Album of the Year (for Special) and Song of the Year (for “About Damn Time”).