Social media has become a breeding ground for toxic behavior and hate speech.
A recent incident involving conservative tweeter Cassandra—also known as @CassyWearsHeels—is another example of this trend.
The now-deleted tweet pitted Cassandra against popular pop star Lizzo, calling on users of the social media platform to choose between the two women.
While the tweet did not provide a clear reason for choosing between the two, many speculated that it was based on physical appearance. The tweet was met with immediate backlash, with many users supporting Lizzo and calling out Cassandra for her problematic behavior.
You can see the tweet below.
\u201cCassandra thinks she\u2019s onto something with this post. The only thing she\u2019s doing is broadcasting her insecurities. To attempt to pit yourself against someone who doesn\u2019t know you and is simply existing to be fatphobic says everything about her. And nothing about Lizzo.\u201d— Portia J. (@Portia J.) 1681244581
Cassandra later doubled down with a transphobic message declaring “Just like men are not women, obesity is not beauty," though she later deleted that as well.
Many came to Lizzo's defense.
\u201cRight Winger desperately tried to Body Shame the gorgeous Lizzo. It has backfired on her, but this shaming she tried to do is vile. \n\nIt\u2019s not her body that makes Cassandra unappealing. It\u2019s her hatred and bigotry. Lizzo is a beacon of love while Cassandra is pure hate.\u201d— Chrystal Williams \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (Taylor\u2019s Version) (@Chrystal Williams \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (Taylor\u2019s Version)) 1681239563
\u201cLizzo is a much better, most beautiful inside and out person that would never do something like this. Enjoy your shame, Cassandra.\u201d— Blue Blooded Dem-Woke asf \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe\u270a\ud83c\udffe (@Blue Blooded Dem-Woke asf \u270a\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe\u270a\ud83c\udffe) 1681218558
\u201cDid she honestly think people would automatically pick her just because she was skinny?\nObjectively between these two photos, @Lizzo looks to be the younger, more fresh faced of the two.\nMost importantly, she seems kinder, sweeter and real.\nCassandra:\ud83e\udd2e Lizzo:\u2764\u201d— Semisan\ud83d\udc00 (@Semisan\ud83d\udc00) 1681273345
\u201cPoor Cassandra. Only the nastiest ugliest souls found her more appealing than Lizzo.\u201d— Jeanie uncensored (@Jeanie uncensored) 1681311065
\u201cShe really thought she did something here.\n\nLizzo all day!\u201d— AskAubry \ud83e\udd9d (@AskAubry \ud83e\udd9d) 1681247259
\u201cSeeing this lady post about Lizzo makes me think of this:\n\nYou'll never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You'll always be criticized by someone doing less. Remember that.\u201d— Charli Huxley (@Charli Huxley) 1681253892
\u201cSo...@CassyWearsHeels thought she would be cute and challenge the Queen @lizzo. It didn't go as she had planned, big shock\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23. So of course she deleted it. She got roasted like the Thanksgiving Turkey. If you come for the Queen....Byeee Cassy. Go and take your heels with you.\u201d— Target On Our Backs (@Target On Our Backs) 1681309727
Lizzo later appeared to comment on the ruckus by simply tweeting her own name.
\u201cLizzo.\u201d— FOLLOW @YITTY (@FOLLOW @YITTY) 1681270492
Throughout her career, Lizzo has been subject to body shaming and has inspired other women because of her stance on body positivity and her self-confidence.
Lizzo has been vocal about her belief that the body positivity movement has left fat people behind, pointing out that a movement largely spearheaded by fat women of color has been, according to Glamour, "muddled by a blanket call for body acceptance that tends to favor midsize and skinny women who receive praise for accepting their so-called imperfections."
Lizzo has also criticized "fake doctors" who offer armchair diagnoses of people's health conditions in online comments sections. Lizzo has stressed that her body is "no one's business."
She made headlines a few years ago after she told a Twitter user who suggested she is only popular "because there is an obesity epidemic in America" that she is popular because she writes "good songs" and is "talented" much to the annoyance of her detractors.