Pop sensation Lizzo has been at the centre of a legal tempest – and this one’s got more theatrics than a 2 a.m. TikTok scroll.
The Grammy-winning singer is being sued for copyright infringement over a snippet of an unreleased song that lit up social media earlier this year. Filed in a California federal court on Tuesday (October 21), the complaint by the Georgia-based GRC Trust accuses Lizzo of lifting parts of Win or Lose (We Tried), a 1970 soul track by Sam Dees, for her own song — alternately known as I’m Goin’ In Till October or Good Jeans.
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According to court filings, the song “incorporates, interpolates, and samples instrumental and vocal portions” of Dees’ song. And in a twist, Lizzo’s people “acknowledge the same,” the complaint alleges.
The offending clip wasn’t an official release – it appeared on Lizzo’s TikTok and Instagram accounts this summer, with her washing a Porsche in denim shorts as she dropped the now-famous line:
“Bitch, I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.”
The lyric playfully referred to Sydney Sweeney’s divisive American Eagle campaign, whose “good jeans” slogan was criticised for its alleged play on “good genes.”
Lizzo’s representatives, nonetheless, characterised the suit as “surprising,” pointing out that the song “has never been commercially released or monetised.”
The GRC Trust, acting on behalf of Jimmy Ginn of Ginn Music Group, maintains it attempted to resolve the issue behind closed doors – but negotiations “reached an impasse.” The lawsuit now demands profits, damages, lawyers’ fees, and injunctive relief against further use of the song.
For Lizzo, it’s another pop-culture cliffhanger – and this one is about her “good jeans” under attack.
