Twerking is mainstream now … but do you know where it came from? Superstar Lizzo traces booty shaking to a traditional West African dance and shares how Black women across generations kept the rhythm alive, from blues and jazz singers to modern rap and hip-hop performers. With her characteristic energy, she shares how twerking empowered her to love her own body — and explains why understanding its origins helps protect Black culture from erasure and misappropriation. (And, yes, she twerks on stage.)
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Oh my God.
I’m so excited.
(Applause and cheers)
This is the first time
I’ve seen people since March 2020.
Hi!
Hi, people.
I’ve had a lot of accomplishments,
but this is a dream come true right now —
(Applause and cheers)
by the way.
So make some noise for the dress.
(Applause and cheers)
And now the back of the dress.
(Applause and cheers)
Can we get booty cam, please?
(Laughter)
Booty cam!
If you follow me on social media
you’ve probably seen my heinie before;
it’s no secret.
(Cheers)
But you know, I used to hate my ass …
believe it or not.
I have my father’s shape
and my mother’s size,
so it was big and long.
(Laughter)
I used to think that only asses
like J.Lo’s or Beyoncé’s could be famous.
I never thought that could happen to me.
I always felt like my body type
wasn’t the right one
or the desirable one growing up,
because I grew up in an era
where having a big ass wasn’t mainstream.
I grew up watching movies
where women were like,
“Does my ass look fat in this?”
like it was a bad thing.
(Laughter)
I felt like the ass odds were against me,
but baby —
(Laughs)
this badonkadonkdonk was going places.
(Cheers and applause)
My ass has been the topic of conversation,
my ass has been in magazines.
Rihanna gave my ass a standing ovation.
(Cheers)
Yes, my booty,
my least favorite part of my body.
How did this happen?
Twerkin’.
(Laughter)
(Applause and cheers)
Through the movement of twerking,
I discovered my ass is my greatest asset.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to TED …
Twerk!
(Laughing)
(Applause and cheers)
I’m going to take my shoes off,
is that OK with y’all?
(Cheers)
So the first time I saw twerking in person
was at a teen club called The Z
in Houston, Texas.
Hey, shout out, Houston,
we got some Houstonians here!
There I saw a bunch of girls my age
shaking their booty to New Orleans bounce,
and I was like, “How are they doing that?”
It was incredible to me.
Thanks to my Caribbean besties,
Peaches and Jolene,
and thanks to Master P —
whoop, whoop —
I found the rhythm.
The better I got,
the more I fell in love with what I had,
because, damn, my ass could do magic.
Finally, I could twerk,
but twerking did not begin with me …
believe it or not.
(Laughing)
I know you think
I invented twerking;
I didn’t.
I want you to know
where twerking came from.
I think everyone should know
where everything comes from.
You should know where
your food and water come from;
you should know
where your clothes come from.
It’s important to me to keep
the origin story of twerking alive.
So here’s some farm-to-table for that ass.
(Laughter)
(Applause)
Modern-day twerking derived
from Black people and Black culture.
It has a direct parallel
to West African dances like mapouka.
Traditionally, mapouka was a dance
for West African women
to be used as a celebration of joy,
religious worship
or a dance to do at a wedding
to show you were DTF
or DTM …
down to marry, down to marry —
get your mind out the gutter.
(Laughter)
Black women carried these dances
across the transatlantic slave trade
to the ring shout and what became
the Black American Church,
into the hips of Ma Rainey
and Bessie Smith when they sang the blues,
into the bounce of
Josephine Baker’s banana dance.
From jazz dance to jitterbug,
from shake ya tailfeather
to shake your thang
to that thang thangin.
(Laughter)
Black people carried
the origins of this dance through our DNA,
through our blood,
through our bones.
We made twerking the global,
cultural phenomenon it has become today.
Now, as a big, Black woman who has ass,
who can twerk
and who’s been doing it her whole life,
I kind of think I’m an expert
on the subject.
I want to add to the classical etymology
of this dance because it matters.
Black people will not be erased
from the creation,
the history
and the innovation of twerking.
(Applause and cheers)
Thank you.
(Applause)
From TikTok trends to songs and humor,
we see so much erasure
of what Black people have created,
so I want to do everything in my power
to prevent the erasure
of Blackness from twerking.
Twerking is a Black American
communal collaboration
born of Black Southern culture.
From DJ Jubilee and Cash Money
Records in New Orleans,
to Lil Jon
and the Ying Yang Twins in Atlanta,
to Uncle Luke in Miami,
twerking was alive and well
in nearly every Black club in the South.
But it would take years
after these songs were released
for twerking to finally become mainstream.
I got a test for y’all.
(Singing) Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh oh, no, no.
Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, oh, no, no.
You know that one?
Hold up.
Ya’ll ain’t see it.
(Singing) Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh oh, no, no,
uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, oh, no, no.
(Applause and cheers)
The “Uh-oh” dance.
Beyoncé called it that
because she was trying to warn us.
(Laughter)
Because of Destiny’s Child,
bootylicious is in the dictionary.
And because of Beyoncé’s 2003 music video
for her single “Crazy in Love,”
the world was introduced
to the “Uh-oh” dance.
That was the first time I’d ever seen
a popstar do something like that,
and I wanted to be just like her.
Beyoncé gave me permission
to be myself …
to be bootylicious.
Because she could shake ass
and still be seen as classy
in the eyes of America.
And that was hard to do.
When I moved from Houston
to Minneapolis in the early 2010s,
I hadn’t seen twerking in a while
until Big Freedia’s tour came to town.
Now, Big Freedia performs bounce music
with the voice of a preacher
and the body of bad bitch.
(Laughter)
If you can imagine, it’s incredible.
Big Freedia has a moment in her shows
where she will call people
on stage to twerk,
and she chose me from the audience
to battle another person.
And I remember being like,
“Oh my God, I miss this so much.”
(Laughter)
When I was up there I thought to myself,
not only am I shaking ass
but I am winning,
and besides Big Freedia,
I’m the best twerker in the building.
And just like that,
I was reintroduced to twerking.
When I started to perform my solo music,
I began incorporating twerking
into my performances,
and people would go crazy.
I performed for mainly indie audiences,
so they didn’t know
what the fuck was happening,
and I liked it that way.
(Laughter)
Twerking made me feel empowered.
It was my secret language;
my sauce.
Little did I know
that a couple of years later,
Miley Cyrus would perform what seemed
like the twerk heard around the world.
Y’all remember that.
In 2013,
within a month of each other,
I released my debut project,
“Lizzobangers,”
and Miley Cyrus released
her project, “Bangerz.”
That same year, Miley released
the single “We Can’t Stop,”
and she was twerking in the video.
I remember being like, “This is crazy;
Hannah Montana
twerking all over the place.”
(Laughter)
A couple months later, she performed
with Robin Thicke on the V.M.A.s,
and that night, seemingly overnight,
twerking went mainstream.
The media described twerking as, I quote,
“disturbing and disgusting.”
Critics blasted twerking
as something that was exploiting
and over-sexualizing young women.
Once mainstream,
twerking was misunderstood
and taken out of context.
It was bittersweet.
For one,
I wish that a Black woman could have
popularized twerking in the mainstream.
But on the other end,
twerking going mainstream played a role
in the rise of my profile and my career.
Listen.
Everything that Black people create,
from fashion to music to the way we talk,
is co-opted, appropriated
and taken by pop culture.
(Applause)
For this reason,
optimism can be an illusion
to the experience
of Black people in America.
In this TED Talk,
I’m not trying to gatekeep,
but I’m definitely trying to let you know
who built the damn gate.
(Laughs)
(Applause and cheers)
The fact that I can make a stake
in the reclamation of Black things
and Black culture
makes me very optimistic.
To be on stage at the premiere conference
for the experts in their field,
talking about twerking —
(Laughter)
and stating my facts,
makes me optimistic.
The best thing I can do
is be loud and take ownership,
because for me,
twerking is a pearl of optimism.
It’s a form of self-expression, freedom —
confidence.
Twerking is not
just something I do to music.
It’s extremely useful.
It manifests in my life
in ways that I need more joy.
In the mornings,
twerking leads me to stretching
and taking care of my body.
I bend over and I isolate my cheeks;
I’m in downward dog.
(Laughter and cheers)
Namaste.
(Laughter)
Sometimes I’ll put on a song
and I shake ass,
and immediately I’m in love with myself.
And not just self-love.
I mean like,
“OK, Lizzo, what’s your number?”
(Laughter)
I would do me.
But it’s not just sexual.
(Laughter)
It’s not.
(Applause and cheers)
Twerking is a deep,
soulful, spiritual practice.
It’s hip-opening.
It’s empowering.
When performed as the mapouka,
it’s said to connect you to God.
It’s sacred.
And now we’re practicing
that on mainstream stages.
We’re practicing that at home,
and it’s contributing to the liberation
of women and people around the world.
Twerking is good for humanity.
(Laughter)
Forty years ago,
when Black and brown people in New York
invented break dancing,
it was villainized.
Mainstream media weaponized break dancing
by connecting it to gang activity
and violence.
As an art form and subculture,
it wasn’t taken seriously.
Fast-forward to today,
break dancing is now an Olympic sport.
What will be the future of twerking?
Russian ballet dancers are twerking.
Have you seen it?
They be like this.
Y’all think I’m playing.
They’re out there like —
(Singing) Doo doo doo doo.
(Laughter)
Can we clear Tchaikovsky?
(Laughter)
Will we see twerking
as an Olympic sport one day?
And will Black people still be part of it?
I’m proud to be a twerk pioneer.
I’m grateful for the asses
that came before me.
(Laughter)
All hail Beyoncé.
Nicki Minaj.
From Betty Boop to Buffie the Body.
When I shake this ass,
I do it for the culture,
not the vulture.
For me, twerking ain’t a trend.
My body is not a trend.
I twerk for the strippers,
for the video vixens,
for the church ladies who shout —
for the sex workers.
I twerk because Black women
are undeniable.
I twerk for my ancestors,
for sexual liberation,
for my bitches —
hey, girl —
because I can,
because I know I look good.
I twerk because it’s unique
to the Black experience.
It’s unique to my culture,
and it means something real to me.
I twerk because I’m talented.
(Applause and cheers)
Because I’m sexual,
but not to be sexualized.
(Applause)
I twerk to own my power,
to reclaim my Blackness,
my culture.
I twerk for fat Black women,
because being fat and Black
is a beautiful thing.
(Applause and cheers)
I twerk because it’s as natural
to me as breathing.
Black women invented twerking,
and twerking is part of the revolution.
We’ve been doing it,
we’re going to keep on doing it
because we have
and always will be the blueprint.
(Applause and cheers)
We twerk to remind ourselves we here,
and we ain’t going nowhere.
So in the case of optimism,
I want everyone to stand up
and shake some ass with me.
Are y’all ready?
Come on, y’all.
(Music) “Tempo.”
I’ve been waiting for this one.
I’m going to show you how to do it.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.
You’re going in a circle now.
Hey, hey, hey!
(Laughs)
(Whistles and cheers)
Let’s go.
I see y’all.
(Music)
OK, you really twerkin’ it.
(Music)
(Cheers)
Come on, I want to see what you can do.
OK, OK, OK, OK.
OK, I like what you’re doing.
Hey, hey!
(Laughs)
(Music)
(Laughs)
Thank you so much TED Talk.
(Applause and cheers)
This is a dream come true.
Thank you so much.
(Applause and cheers)
I don’t know why I’m emotional,
but I feel like we made history tonight,
so thank you so much.
(Applause and cheers)
Science & Technology4 years ago
Wired5 years ago
CNET4 years ago
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People & Blogs2 years ago
Wired5 years ago
Max Schmader
September 30, 2021 at 11:50 pm
All 700+ dislikes are old crusty little pee pee energy
j sue
September 30, 2021 at 11:50 pm
“i ReMeMbEr wHeN tHiS cHaNnEL wAs eDuCaTiOnAl hurr”… omg then go watch one of those videos lol!! Lizzo is just serving you some major pop culture history!! Let her do her thing haters!! <33
Medical Museum
October 1, 2021 at 1:21 am
Then what’s next? The history of yo momma and how it thought me engineering?
ThePhreakass
September 30, 2021 at 11:52 pm
The boondocks were right in the MLK episode
Julian Johnson
October 1, 2021 at 1:13 am
Best comment award 🥇 and on point. That show was the pulse on idiocracy that made some folks proud.
Firdawsa Abdi
September 30, 2021 at 11:53 pm
I love her and I also hear her well
Erin Fogarty
September 30, 2021 at 11:56 pm
Black culture is incredibly important and so is the culture of indigenous people, native Americans, and Hispanic and Latin people who also have twerked as part of their cultural traditions. It’s important to celebrate all cultures and the impacts they have had on us. The gate was built by many different cultures. When I twerk im celebrating and appreciating the knowledge I’ve gotten from so many beautiful cultures. Also I love that lizzo got the whole crowd up and twerking!
John Airhart
October 1, 2021 at 12:17 am
?
Erin Fogarty
October 1, 2021 at 12:21 am
@John Airhart did you have a question love?
Lizmarie218
October 1, 2021 at 12:04 am
This is a very well presented educational conversation about today’s culture / history of twerking as it related to her to growth and learning to love herself. She tells the history because that’s where half of the lesson is at, but y’all out here like “hIsToRy oF TwErKiNg wOw So EdUcaTiOnAl”.
Lizzo deserved this platform just as much as the other people featured on this account. She engages her audience and maintains a tone of comedy throughout. She has a strong positive message meant to reach those who need it. Just because it doesn’t look the same as others doesn’t mean this wasn’t a great speech. Y’all so afraid of something different and that’s exactly what’s wrong with people on social media today – if it’s not up your alley LEAVE THE VIDEO!!! Your comments are not necessary at the slightest or even related the the content. Goodbye. 🤦🏻♀️
CaSondra Stinson
October 1, 2021 at 12:06 am
Damn people, it is possible to like TED traditional and TED cultural!
Megan Dean
October 1, 2021 at 12:09 am
Her laugh is so beautifully contagious and adorable. People forget that dance is an art and there’s a rich history behind it all. If you don’t think it’s important, than I feel very sad for the future. Too many people are all for tradition until it’s someone else’s.
Zeeshan Faraz
October 1, 2021 at 12:22 am
these kinda talks are not necessarily unnecessary but TED is definitely not a place for that.
Courtney Sch.
October 1, 2021 at 12:54 am
Art and culture…? Homie one of the most popular TedTalk videos is about talking back to scammers. This kind of thing is not new for TED.
Mo
October 1, 2021 at 12:24 am
1st TED TALK ENDING IN TWERK🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Ravishing RickRude
October 1, 2021 at 12:25 am
Gross, nothing like some pit bulls fighting over milk duds.
Mo
October 1, 2021 at 12:26 am
I can feel her energy through a video. I can’t imagine what’s like to have her in person.😌💖💖💖💖
Simply Beautiful
October 1, 2021 at 12:39 am
She’s very spontaneous. ( : ( :
Tara Aliyeva
October 1, 2021 at 12:40 am
💛So much LOVE for Lizzo 💛
Lacy Davis
October 1, 2021 at 12:46 am
What a wonderful human being! ✌🏻❤️
China Numbawon
October 1, 2021 at 12:57 am
The fruits of western civilization…
Mocha Sistah
October 1, 2021 at 12:57 am
Great talk!!! What a wonderful positive spirit, keep it up LIZZO!
Michael Misa
October 1, 2021 at 1:01 am
who let her in a TED talk 🤦🏻
Mars
October 1, 2021 at 1:06 am
Do your thing baby!!! Black culture is amazing and everyone on this planet is blessed by it!!
Jeanna Riggleman
October 1, 2021 at 1:07 am
There’s a lot of people in these comments who’re clearly only here so they can tell other people they watch TED talks and feel superior. Pop culture is culture. Black culture is culture. It’s worth discussion. Any one who limits the definition of “intellectual conversation” is a not, in fact, an intellectual.
Fwg King
October 1, 2021 at 1:20 am
“Is a not.” Way to not be an intellectual also, Jeanna.
Hoàng Hoàng
October 1, 2021 at 1:09 am
B
Hoàng Hoàng
October 1, 2021 at 1:09 am
Fun
Nat Tauer
October 1, 2021 at 1:12 am
Miley w her tongue out was overcompensating at that time to be viewed as an adult and black culture got lost in that- glad you spotlighted the truth
nerdycoolioh
October 1, 2021 at 1:14 am
EVERY WORD SPOKEN WAS FACTS 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Keke Hardy
October 1, 2021 at 1:20 am
Go Lizzo! Go Lizzo 🍑❤️
marcos lopes
October 1, 2021 at 10:25 pm
At least twerking she can loose some calories, because bit ch here is totally out of breath
JohnR88
October 1, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Shaking your bum is not that deep I’m sorry 😂
Nat0ri0us
October 1, 2021 at 10:27 pm
Whelp, these aren’t worth watching anymore.
CDub
October 1, 2021 at 10:41 pm
Go back to pushing obesity…cant believe Ted Talks actually posted this
britney seabolt
October 1, 2021 at 10:47 pm
Shut up, Lizzo
Grant Gilchrist
October 1, 2021 at 10:51 pm
Ah yes the pinnacle of social innovation in the western world has been established at last
Scot More
October 1, 2021 at 10:58 pm
Shout out to Lizzo: This Houstonian LOVES YOU and Appreciates your talents.
Hotep Kennels
October 1, 2021 at 11:06 pm
Excellent presentation, KWEEN!!!!!!! 👑👸🏾👏🏾💪🏿✊🏾
Gabriella ballor
October 1, 2021 at 11:14 pm
I appreciate all black people, especially black Americans and their culture. Thank you for everything great in our country
Ryan
October 1, 2021 at 11:27 pm
You we’re one of those white girls in school that always tried to act black weren’t you
C.O. Shea
October 1, 2021 at 11:19 pm
Powerful reminder… know the origin of the tradition. Not a gate keeper, but know who built the gate. Bam! Respect!
Val Farruggia
October 1, 2021 at 11:26 pm
Most of these comments give serious colonizer vibes. I can’t imagine why you’re reacting so negatively to both anecdotal and factual information delivered by an intelligent, vibrant individual. Perhaps you simply wish you could twerk. That’s not for me to say.
Erick Meister
October 1, 2021 at 11:40 pm
Yikes!!
chase baker
October 1, 2021 at 11:46 pm
She loves to twerk, but no one else loves to watch🤮
jdotundead
October 2, 2021 at 12:01 am
Most girls today have no dads and mommy is their friend. This is why people like Lizzo are famous.
fxtima
October 2, 2021 at 12:17 am
Not people on the comments section criticizing a video they chose to watch 🙄
11CA1 - 24 - Phan Tiến Minh Thùy
October 2, 2021 at 12:29 am
Aaa lizzo
Paula morgan
October 2, 2021 at 12:40 am
This was actually educational, just like hula dancing the original tweaking which started in west Africa was done in praise to GOD or to honor the tribal chiefs.
fresh4u1994
October 2, 2021 at 12:55 am
These comments will be even better once this video actually gets views. But then again no one cares for lizzo so probably not.
Ropiaka Rocks
October 2, 2021 at 1:00 am
How did are world get to this 🤦🏻♂️
seriouussalt1
October 2, 2021 at 1:00 am
Cringe
Ropiaka Rocks
October 2, 2021 at 1:01 am
Also isn’t obesity one of the highest causes of death in America or am I as dumb as her
Jazz
October 2, 2021 at 1:23 am
I hate life
samuel1624
October 2, 2021 at 6:32 pm
We are lost
Irish Rose
October 2, 2021 at 6:34 pm
FML is she for real? This is comedy gold 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
ms Sai
October 2, 2021 at 6:40 pm
I think she wasn’t the right person nor the right topic. This is trash and not adding value!
Keith Briggs
October 2, 2021 at 6:49 pm
Smdh!!!!!!!!!!!
Karly G
October 2, 2021 at 6:59 pm
How could she? And how’s people clapping 😖🤮
freshathanyou
October 2, 2021 at 7:08 pm
Ted talk pls turn off these comments🥴 the point went over y’alls head
Jake Johnson
October 2, 2021 at 7:31 pm
Is she out of breath just talking?
Cassandee
October 2, 2021 at 7:35 pm
“The best thing I can do is be loud and take ownership”
Wandering_Circles
October 2, 2021 at 7:42 pm
Back in the day when people who talk in TED talks are people who are innovative and actually there to change the world.
Alumna Sky
October 2, 2021 at 8:01 pm
God I just couldn’t fall anymore in love with her spirit and energy. I appreciate her sharing this and educating us especially with her sarcasm. Just makes her that much more beautiful!! 🙏🏼💙
Jared Stein
October 2, 2021 at 8:15 pm
Self love is taking care of your body with a good diet and exercise. Being obese is not body positivity.
My Name is DC
October 2, 2021 at 8:51 pm
She promotes both of those things on her social media constantly and follows through on them, she is healthy even if you don’t think she looks like it.
MyOnlyRilakkuma
October 2, 2021 at 8:24 pm
Such a lovely woman. She just wants people to feel beautiful because she remembers not feeling beautiful. Everyone can aspire to be as confident and kind as her.
Leo Ehrlich
October 2, 2021 at 8:29 pm
Love Lizzo! This is a great talk. She’s right that twerking has become a large part of our culture and it’s important to understand it’s history and power. Thanks Lizzo. Keep lifting people up and so will we!
Terence Black
October 2, 2021 at 10:43 pm
Has it ? Has it really
First Place
October 3, 2021 at 1:03 am
She’s wrong about the history, though. Twerking did not originate with black people, and does not belong to black women.
Emit RelevArt
October 2, 2021 at 8:53 pm
I’m happy to have watched this, it was a good talk! xD
Bush Man
October 2, 2021 at 9:07 pm
Such a bad image on our people gosh. Can y’all just not??? Stop dragging our image down then complain about how the media portrays you
Alex M
October 2, 2021 at 9:14 pm
I take back what I’ve previously said, I finally found someone that is less funny than Amy Schumer is.
Afro-Indio
October 2, 2021 at 10:04 pm
She did a Ted Talk about twerking, but not the 70,000+ missing Black women. Smh
Tony Lam
October 2, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Don’t hate or like it. Just take a shot every time she says twerk.
PEACH ICE
October 2, 2021 at 11:02 pm
No one asked chungus
L'Rynda T.
October 2, 2021 at 11:42 pm
Lizzo has self-confidence and there is nothing wrong with that. She is simply encouraging women, particularly young women to embrace the body they have and to love and respect themselves and demand respect from others. Has she made some questionable choices? Find me a human being who hasn’t. Folks who want to fat-shame, insult, belittle and disrespect Lizzo and by inference, all overweight, obese, fat, large (whatever adjective you want to use) illness, poor health, and disease do NOT respect body size. Many thin people suffer from arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, various forms of cancer, emotional trauma, and various forms of depression. To think that good health is the sole property of the thin is ludicrous, and only someone stuck in a 1950’s mentality would actually believe such a thing. Here are some questions that I often ask people who like to troll and insult others, particularly people of size who have YouTube channels, Instagram, FaceBook groups, etc. Do you have a life outside of your computer screen? If you disagree with something you see or hear why don’t you just go elsewhere? Why don’t you just scroll on by? My hat is off to Lizzo, to Joy Amore, to Soulful T., to Cooking With Tip and so many, many other women who are out there making it happen, making their paper and living life on their own terms, and fulfilling their dreams and helping other women to see them and do the same!
OLDMAN MADMAX
October 3, 2021 at 12:08 am
🤣🤣🤣 this f!@@#%% world is getting worse by the day
whatapp
October 3, 2021 at 12:16 am
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤…
Nay LA
October 3, 2021 at 12:20 am
She talks about confidence yet she is always crying on social media??
whatapp
October 3, 2021 at 12:22 am
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤….
Tiffany Johnson
October 3, 2021 at 12:40 am
This is a new low for black women. Why Lord why.
Amina omar
October 3, 2021 at 12:58 am
Delusion, delusion, delusion
Debbie George
October 3, 2021 at 1:07 am
David Carroll is beyond right.
albertu pardsnipec
October 3, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Now watch Sam Hyde’s TedX talk.
fenangledface
October 3, 2021 at 5:34 pm
This drivel is a TED talk? What a joke
albertu pardsnipec
October 3, 2021 at 5:43 pm
This is extra funny because I have no idea who she is.
ty zelaya
October 3, 2021 at 6:12 pm
These comments didn’t past the vibe test, it’s giving racism and fatphobia. Never understood how a black woman feeling beautiful in her own skin was a problem lol
MusicalMikey
October 3, 2021 at 6:32 pm
I didn’t actually know the history of twerking, and I mean, if the goal of Ted Talks is to teach me something, Lizzy succeeded.
That Guy
October 3, 2021 at 6:55 pm
I got more useful information from Sam Hyde’s talk than from this
No1CurrMadison777
October 3, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Oh all the things she could talk about she chooses this…
sarias song
October 3, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Everyone in the comments is horrid, don’t like it then don’t watch it!
cqxmrvcoy
October 3, 2021 at 7:58 pm
this says a lot about what causes single mothers.
TheMule
October 3, 2021 at 8:19 pm
Revolt against the modern world
Michael Sim
October 3, 2021 at 8:45 pm
what a disgusting slab of beef
Deborah Roberts
October 3, 2021 at 9:17 pm
I just listened to your music for the very 1st time, I’m not in the main stream music. I only listen to Christian and mediation music these days. But I liked it , I love it, My Own Soul mate , really like it.
Tonia Farrington
October 3, 2021 at 9:22 pm
Y’all really hating on her for what? The fact that she’s speaking facts??
George Johnson
October 3, 2021 at 9:27 pm
HOL UP
SO YOU SAYIN
Jeffrey Smith
October 3, 2021 at 9:34 pm
Yes, nobody would have figured out shoving your genetalia outward and bouncing it up and down had it not been for West African dancers.
Nicholas Rose
October 3, 2021 at 10:36 pm
Came here to watch this Queen slay.
Opened comment section expecting to see the usual love.
Lost faith in humanity.
Why is the comment section so overrun with hate?
TARISHA T
October 3, 2021 at 11:16 pm
She’s not wrong. Woman have been twerking for years. It did originate in Africa. It only became mainstream after Miley Cirus showed the world that white girls can do it too then insta thots of all races except white said nah this dance our ancestors use to do well not be whitewashed look at us we do it better in booty shorts. Then a big girl does it now its trashy she’s stupid she doing too much… but y’all not ready for that conversation. My end point is do your research ppl. A simple Google search will solve almost all of life’s mysteries.
Rebel Runner
October 3, 2021 at 11:17 pm
My IQ just dropped 20 points
Lucy Lu
October 3, 2021 at 11:39 pm
What an idiotic representation of black culture/women. This is an intellectual forum, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD !!!
finallyanime
October 3, 2021 at 11:48 pm
we’re allowing ted talks on this wtf…lizzo. WHY. Lol
we just cant get a solid ‘W’ these days…lawd
Sussy Baca
October 4, 2021 at 12:53 am
Soo we talking bout twerking now?..
Fopé Law
October 4, 2021 at 7:23 pm
Modern day Minstrel show
Silenced Thoughts
October 4, 2021 at 7:35 pm
Who what when where how and WHY? 🤮
Jonathan Epstein
October 4, 2021 at 7:50 pm
Utter degeneracy.
Ancestral Light
October 4, 2021 at 8:02 pm
I don’t blame this lady, but TED Talks inviting her and endorsing this Twerking nonsense.👎🏾
Natalie Dominguez
October 4, 2021 at 8:26 pm
Waiting for the Kevin Samuels video to drop.
Juanita Lucky
October 5, 2021 at 1:10 am
He is gonna rip this
Andrew Ewing
October 4, 2021 at 8:37 pm
This is what happens when TED gets a diversity quota…
Paul Winston
October 4, 2021 at 8:47 pm
You are being Exploited
This isn’t funny t
They are clowning you specifically
They care nothing about you
It’s your act
Don’t be know for this
This will be your moment
MR_Marvelous_1
October 4, 2021 at 8:51 pm
Really Ted Talks?….Really?
Patricia Griggs
October 4, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Why are we talking about BUTTS for a lesson in BLACK HISTORY???? This is a BIZZARO world we are living in for sure… 🙁
nitetimejohnson
October 4, 2021 at 10:14 pm
“Ideas worth spreading”….twerking? Out of all of the people and ideas truly worth while, why twerking? Ted Talks have truly fallen off.
Zimbabwe Edu
October 4, 2021 at 10:18 pm
Twerk culture is not black history. TED ought to be ashamed
IIIRDWIII
October 4, 2021 at 10:38 pm
I did not watch this. I would never watch this, nor would my intelligent peers from the black community. I am only here to say SHAME ON YOU, TED FOUNDATION, for exploiting this low self esteem one woman minstrel show. But also, thank you for showing us who you really are.
Mista Heard
October 4, 2021 at 10:43 pm
This so out of line
J Heffernan
October 4, 2021 at 10:43 pm
Man the harpoon, thar be a 🐋
Mista Heard
October 4, 2021 at 10:48 pm
So disrespectful
Andrew JM
October 4, 2021 at 10:51 pm
this woman is a walking embarrassment.
RAMON morgan
October 4, 2021 at 10:58 pm
Smdh …… toxic energy
James O
October 4, 2021 at 11:13 pm
I mean as if talking about twerking is not ratchet enough?… She made it worse by taking off her shoes and being barefoot on stage for her talk😣
caspar woensdregt
October 5, 2021 at 12:08 am
Okay, am I the only one that sees a delusional lady.
Your culture is yours, that part I get.
But, don’t tell me you want to be sexual without being sexualized.
It’s an oxymoron… coming from a moron.
hazel goodshepherd
October 5, 2021 at 12:23 am
A worldwide pandemic, a collapsing economy, endless war, countless racial and social inequalities, increasing poverty… And you choose to make your TED Talk… about twerking?
I will never forgive you for this, Lizzo. Never.
C N
October 5, 2021 at 12:28 am
I swear people like her are being praised and funded by people who want to see the fall of the black race.
hazel goodshepherd
October 5, 2021 at 12:44 am
Oh, so you DON’T wanna talk about the systemic oppression which has lead to your people having literally 1/8th the wealth and less than 30% of the earning power of their white counterparts, a directly quantifiable variance which Forbes analysts trace to a history of slavery and servitude under European imperialism, both as Africans and indigenous Native Americans…?
You want to talk about… twerking? Jesus Christ, woman.
Ref – Forbes – The Key To Closing The Racial Wealth Gap: Black Entrepreneurship – Brian Thompson, Senior Contributor – Personal Finance Jun 17, 2021
Ref – Forbes – Black Americans Earn 30% Less Than White Americans, While Black Households Have Just One-Eighth Wealth Of White Households – Palash Ghosh, Former Staff – Business Jun 18, 2021
Keith Bell
October 5, 2021 at 12:47 am
Lizzo walks out so full of appreciation and good energy- + 1.
Lizzo asks for the “booty cam” to zoom in on her backside- -1.
Back to zero.
From here on out she appears to dedicate this entire session on her backside & twerking.
I may be wrong… but I wouldn’t know .
Because I will gladly sign off now at about 1/3 of this program- yes sadly even to missing out on her take about the history of african dance
(As I typed this I cut off the volume because I can’t take it anymore)
I AM DONE.
Lady K
October 5, 2021 at 1:02 am
She is all out of breath and just too large. And her conversation is beyond ridiculous. A tool for white supremacy
Juanita Lucky
October 5, 2021 at 1:20 am
Wow…just wow Ted Talks y’all reached way down n it’s NOT attractive cute or respectful..My ancestors would have other things to say and it wouldn’t be nice!
Hizzo Big8
October 5, 2021 at 2:45 pm
Bruh😞
Jewel Howard
October 5, 2021 at 3:03 pm
Ideas worth spreading. 🤔
Aubrey HUES
October 5, 2021 at 3:22 pm
i HATE this. like its embarrassing af.
T Simon
October 5, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Message: This woman does NOT represent all Black women. She is a pawn. Over sexualizing in the name of self-worth, power, & body positivity is so twisted. Women who know they are the gatekeepers of LIFE, such as our ancestors in Africa, conduct themselves totally different than what we see in mainstream media. They give her this huge platform to skew our ethnic image. Slick play but…. Nah. This ain’t it.
AL B.
October 5, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Last TED talk i’ll ever watch…
RED EFG
October 5, 2021 at 4:22 pm
My gosh, I tried to listen but I just cant.. after watching other ted talks and ended up here, I can feel my brain cells draining
Miss Cali Luv
October 5, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Why would she be asked to speak on TED talk? Smdh
The fact that it’s even possible to TEDTalk about twerkin is fuckin ridiculous.
Kerenton
October 5, 2021 at 5:17 pm
And then one day, for no reason at all…
SnapShot's Reviews
October 5, 2021 at 6:52 pm
My brain cells are dying every second that passes by while listening to this
Brucifer Burton
October 5, 2021 at 9:08 pm
I guessing there aren’t too many.
Shane
October 5, 2021 at 7:05 pm
Bruuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh
Shane
October 5, 2021 at 7:06 pm
This got to be a joke
Shane
October 5, 2021 at 7:09 pm
Ur welcome 4:59
GiGinga’321
October 5, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Lizzo “Why”
DLH
October 5, 2021 at 7:37 pm
I feel sorry for her or any black woman who feels the need to sexualize herself in order to feel accepted… Clearly there’s some underlying issues going on there in regards to her self worth.
Ama Amma
October 5, 2021 at 8:08 pm
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Jam Tom
October 5, 2021 at 8:14 pm
See y’all problem is that in order to find a black female successful she has to be devoid of her sexuality.
Brucifer Burton
October 5, 2021 at 9:02 pm
<❤>
Anh Tư Đức
October 5, 2021 at 11:00 pm
TED IS DEAD! The ted i know 5 years ago is dead.
youngsaaron
October 5, 2021 at 11:54 pm
damn she out of breathe immediately hahahahahaha
ray riley
October 5, 2021 at 11:59 pm
Its a shame society will accept a man giving birth but women cant shake their booty…..
uv.vibes
October 6, 2021 at 12:37 am
Not all the old an middle age white men in the front row 😅 crowd was dry
Jorge Peñaloza
October 6, 2021 at 12:47 am
Disgusting
uv.vibes
October 6, 2021 at 12:50 am
I do respect some of the things she said here.. she could have taken a different direction and talk more about body positivity and self love or even go more into culture appropriation but she stayed stuck talking about her butt lol I do love Lizzo though i just wish she showed that she’s more than one dimensional
N2BFW
October 6, 2021 at 1:25 am
How does this happen? PC feminist culture acting like trying to shake off a stubborn turd is art.
Lillian Graham
October 6, 2021 at 6:52 am
YOU GO GIRL!
Rulya קארן Mórrigan
October 6, 2021 at 7:08 am
No, girl.
Lillian Graham
October 6, 2021 at 7:11 am
@Rulya קארן Mórrigan wait ,why ?
Lillian Graham
October 6, 2021 at 6:55 am
I thought twerking was universal
Rulya קארן Mórrigan
October 6, 2021 at 7:06 am
Wow, you have sunk so low, Ted Talks.
Junior Uchiha
October 6, 2021 at 7:33 am
This obese woman really thought she did something with this 💀💀💀
Junior Uchiha
October 6, 2021 at 7:34 am
Most of the views from this video are people coming to see if TedTalks really said this video was okay for their channel
Bart
October 6, 2021 at 9:49 am
Seriously?
CWimn1
October 6, 2021 at 11:18 am
I feel like she’s brainwashed and lying to herself. This is all false confidence. Weak women with an incredibly fragile ego.
Void Lang
October 6, 2021 at 11:36 am
GUUUUUUUUURL, watchu talkin about?
Saba N
October 6, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Why was this allowed?
Chyna Edwards
October 6, 2021 at 12:46 pm
IS SHE FOREAL? 🙄
Kage Kun
October 6, 2021 at 2:01 pm
Of all the other things you could have said this big gets up on here and talks about how black people owns “twerking” if I didn’t like you already this particular video would have hit it home for me lizzo you are disgrace to the black community. And nobody wants to see you twerking on stage in a onesie or a two-piece bikini anymore you too big for that
Joshua Bunyan
October 6, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Black ignorance at its finest but, I truly blame the white liberals that use black people as puppets.
Mike STUDIO 1106
October 6, 2021 at 2:20 pm
She misread she was representing Jerk culture.
Tamara Williams Van Horn
October 6, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Thank you Lizzo, for resisting respectability politics to bring your whole self, forward!
d m
October 6, 2021 at 6:04 pm
how disgusting
shadowthehedgehog181
October 6, 2021 at 6:35 pm
No
BGP BIG GIRLS PANTIES
October 6, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Really. This is totally embarrassing. Ted Talks has hit an all time low. She does not represent rightous Black women.
caitlin bergman
October 6, 2021 at 7:59 pm
this is a great talk that empowers herself and other women, young and old. lizzo is a body positive icon whom i look up to very much, this comment section is not passing the vibe check
Destiny King
October 6, 2021 at 8:05 pm
THANK YOU!!! I thought the comment section was stuck in 1965.
Ryan Shannon
October 6, 2021 at 8:08 pm
embarrassment
LiterRomancer Esq
October 6, 2021 at 11:02 pm
She said she twerks to reclaim her blackness. It’s strange, I didn’t know blackness was a thing you could loose. Perhaps I should break out a twerk dance in the middle of my companies next business meeting. If they ask why I did it I’ll just say I was suffering from OJ Simpsonitist.
Kat Al
October 6, 2021 at 11:50 pm
There are many important things to talk about in regards to Black culture and Western culture adopting it as its own. This isn’t one of them.
Claudia Jade
October 7, 2021 at 12:13 am
Defs makes me have more respect for twerking. Tbh should just be the default of the new ‘cool’ thing white women are doing in the US (and then Aus) – probs from Black culture
Claudia Jade
October 7, 2021 at 12:22 am
Even if You don’t personally connect with twerking (I certainly don’t), this is someone sharing Their story, their personal experience and connection with this (often maligned) dancing style. I found it very interesting, especially the connection to African tribal dancing.
Atomic Toons
October 7, 2021 at 3:44 am
She twerk ok now. how that is gonna help the world 😔
Atomic Toons
October 7, 2021 at 3:45 am
Wtf is going on here
Urban Royce
October 7, 2021 at 6:34 am
I thought…Ted was an intellectual and insightful platform. Ted go to Bed for this Foolery.
Urban Royce
October 7, 2021 at 6:45 am
Ted Talk executives and Lizzo (unborthered) have Lost their Brains and all the cells that make up Logical and Critical thinking! Ted go to Bed…forever for this Foolery!!!
Leap Luy
October 7, 2021 at 6:45 am
Where are the mathematicians, physicists, psychiatrists, neurologists..,etc??
Kingsley
October 7, 2021 at 8:56 am
This is sad for the whole black community
Michael Boisvert
October 7, 2021 at 2:15 pm
How far we’ve fallen…
Andressa Carvalho
October 7, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Ohh god ! How many prejudice is in this comments !
Dylan Farnum
October 7, 2021 at 5:41 pm
I am a proud Black Woman of Colored and I can say proudly this represents my people.
Dylan Farnum
October 7, 2021 at 5:45 pm
“I feel like I just made history teehee” *walks off stage waving* hahahaha
louise
October 7, 2021 at 7:58 pm
This was soo cute. I get this.
Lydia Zoeller
October 7, 2021 at 8:35 pm
why
Fallentenshi128
October 7, 2021 at 10:42 pm
top comments all completely missing the point of this video. and are perfect examples of internalized racism and respectability politics.
blahblahblah
October 8, 2021 at 12:16 am
Soooo they just handing out invites now? 😣🤦🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
Two steps forward and ten steps back…
JONJON
October 8, 2021 at 1:29 am
people are booing because they are afraid they will get cancelled hahah good old day you.. you could throw a beer bottle and smack them in the head for this kind of stupidity
Kind Guy
October 8, 2021 at 3:54 am
Oh yeah
Desi Dawn
October 8, 2021 at 6:24 am
I am very unimpressed… Wtf has the world come too?
Princess Ro
October 8, 2021 at 7:47 am
LONG STORY SHORT
You people won’t be bothered by Lizzo’s speech about what twerking has done for her when you focus on doing your best in your own life.
“Twerk culture” and twerking are not the same thing. “Twerk culture” isn’t even a thing. Twerking is a popular subject and style of dance. The ideas media outlets pin together about the subject certainly do not create its history. She’s a young musical artist and media personality. Did y’all expect to get the same ted talk from her and some well seasoned professional? She had her own unique flavor and has time to grow. I just hope she’s at peace with her decisions and her work. If you’re reading this… know that you did well and I’m excited to see you grow forward
Benedict Terfa Shishi
October 8, 2021 at 3:09 pm
This lady is disgusting.
Cristy Luv
October 8, 2021 at 3:30 pm
🦗 🦗 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗
Tina Love
October 8, 2021 at 3:30 pm
This big mammy clown does NOT represent all black women!!! This is terrible smh.
George Hays
October 8, 2021 at 4:24 pm
I don’t get it. I’m proud of Lizzo’s courage to stand up for her beliefs.
Adele Crosss
October 8, 2021 at 6:21 pm
It’s sad to me how many people can’t see this as educational and inspirational. I feel like owning your culture and being proud of it is a very important idea, that is definitely worth sharing.
Fortune can't even
October 9, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Nah, gonna have to disagree with you there; African culture has done a lot for western society and we should own that, but I honestly doubt twerking is a bullet point of the topic. Especially with what it has evolved into, because let’s be honest, twerking today is not what it was when the original tribes did it and it doesn’t mean the same things.
STOP MAKING BLACK WOMEN AND CULTURE SYNONYMOUS WITH THIS BEHAVIOR.
yodanielcarter
October 8, 2021 at 7:36 pm
Love Lizzo, love what she’s doing the inspire, teach, create, and empower. This was amazing!!
Noukz
October 8, 2021 at 7:52 pm
It’s been a while now, but you’re about to lose another long-term subscriber, TED. This just doesn’t make any sense… Last year I unsubscribed from National Geographic, this year it’s gonna be TED and next BBC probably
One Man
October 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm
This seemed like a comedy stand up with the all the laughing.
Jordyn Strong
October 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
Welp, we used to learn something from Ted Talk —
I hope she doesn’t have COVID she was breathing so heavy.
Monochrome Baku
October 9, 2021 at 1:32 am
This is such a good video and it makes me so sad how some people in the comments clearly didn’t watch any of it.
justarandomsapphic
October 10, 2021 at 8:07 am
Ikr, it rlly sucks that so many people are being horrible.
riziki michelle
October 9, 2021 at 2:31 am
I can’t believe this is real life 🤦🏾♀️
Ih Niggs
October 9, 2021 at 2:38 am
Oh, please. The women in the church don’t need your self-degradation. That sow twerks because she clearly DOESN’T love herself, & clearly has no one in her corner who loves her.
Mark Angeles alyas Makoy Dakuykoy
October 9, 2021 at 9:46 am
Our colonizers made us insecure. They think they own us, that we exist only for their pleasure.
Fortune can't even
October 9, 2021 at 1:46 pm
The amount of times I had to pause this video to let the cringe roll through me made watching this 14 minute video a 30 minute experience🤧
Kiari R
October 10, 2021 at 8:55 pm
Then don’t watch the damn video, it’s as simple as that
Lauren Wesley [Nevada Learning Academy]
October 9, 2021 at 5:21 pm
You go Lizzo! Get it off your chest girl! Twerking is historical! You damned if you do, damned if you don’t….
RayRay 214
October 10, 2021 at 7:48 pm
And yet y’all wonder why black women are the least respected humans on earth ?!
Y’all sit here and go along and claim all this buffoonery, while trying to get people from other races play along with it so they can laugh at us. And u know damn well that twerking is not historical in our culture.
Elle
October 9, 2021 at 9:16 pm
this is mis representation-
David Uoi
October 9, 2021 at 9:32 pm
Amei, twerking no ted só podia ser com com Lizzo, agora falta a Anitta falando do funk no Brasil
Daniel Maluenda
October 10, 2021 at 1:00 am
I just saw the title and wanted to comment
wut.
Official Rose Doll
October 10, 2021 at 2:27 am
That dress 👗 ❤️❤️
Som Somerson
October 10, 2021 at 5:19 am
TED is worthless now, use to be good, now absolute trash.
Ray Abdelbaki he-she-they
October 10, 2021 at 1:23 pm
You absolutely rock Lizzo🌈 you go sister
Ray Abdelbaki he-she-they
October 10, 2021 at 1:25 pm
This comments section is genuinely pathetic, she is out there empowering BIPOC folx, and showing the history of a dance that’s epic and y’all have the audacity to shame her? Do y’all just want to be known for the things that make capitalism happy (productivity, inventions)? Can you just be proud to be human? Twerking is human, twerking is amazing and lizzo is a fuckin hero
Kuru
October 10, 2021 at 4:54 pm
like i found this interesting. i do understand the outrage, but i like the positive message in this ted talk.
Antonio Bernardo
October 10, 2021 at 6:54 pm
Ted Talk should be a place for intellectuals to speak. Lizzo should be speaking somewhere else not here….
BlackCurl Nomad
October 10, 2021 at 8:56 pm
Im happy twas a dream come tru for her but as a black woman..its a no from me.
procrasti86
October 10, 2021 at 10:49 pm
twerking as a movement. jesus fucking christ.
twerk and classy do not belong in the same sentence
Brandon Jablasone
October 11, 2021 at 3:54 am
I love when y’all use African culture as an excuse to justify y’all bs. Never been to Africa, 🤦🏿I’m fucking disappointed.
𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘶𝘹𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘰
October 11, 2021 at 5:11 am
Remember when Ted talks were actually meaningful conversations?
cqxmrvcoy
October 11, 2021 at 9:29 pm
not really. they’ve always been ideological propaganda or sales pitches. it’s just reaching peak stupid now as the broader culture turns full on anti-intellectual.
Natasha Raisor
October 11, 2021 at 7:11 am
Lizo has no booty. Her twerking is booty less just like Miley🤦🏾♀️She is a trained musician and she couldn’t talk about music. Her career is her musical talent.
Really 029
October 11, 2021 at 7:41 am
Smh they just giving the stage to anyone now huh
Charles Ndung'u
October 11, 2021 at 7:59 am
And then she’ll cry when people ridicule her.
Who does this?! Really?!!
Amber DeShawn
October 11, 2021 at 12:18 pm
The topic was odd but her words we’re facts. I understand what she was doing here. Everything we do is scrutinized from wearing out hair, dancing down to the shoes we buy. It’s less about twerking and more so the erasure of black people from black culture. She was trying to make it fun. It’s hard to talk in front of a crowd. Performing and teaching are too different things. It’s hard to talk about things you care about when you’ve never done it before. It’s scary because “Are they going to take me serious?” Sometimes you have to look deeper into what someone is saying to understand the point.
Sincodemya
October 11, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Bruh….. what happened to Ted talks
Israel Arellano
October 11, 2021 at 1:16 pm
Decline of society.
Amin S
October 11, 2021 at 3:17 pm
Why was Lizzo panting? She barely moved few feet from the stage. Girl, you a vegan, wtf?
Aza Bazar
October 11, 2021 at 3:21 pm
THANKS FOR VIDEO
Joe Hopkins
October 11, 2021 at 3:48 pm
Why is she breathing so hard????
patrick O'flannigan
October 11, 2021 at 5:58 pm
I remember when i used to really enjoy the conversations that TEDtalks could bring to the table, this is absurd.
christina s.
October 11, 2021 at 8:24 pm
Y’all can keep your culture. I do not want to steal any of it.
eric daniel
October 11, 2021 at 8:24 pm
“Banana Dance” is that more offensive or less?
Carter W
October 11, 2021 at 10:47 pm
This is so bad
Elina Filipiy
October 11, 2021 at 11:31 pm
Lizzo: twerking is a cultural thing, it’s sacred, it’s self expression, it’s something that showed me way to self-love
People in the comments: this is disgusting
Really people? Really?
TEDtalk always was about sharing ideas, giving different perspective on different subjects and that’s what it does here. If you say you were cringing the whole video then guess what? You can do not watch it 💁♀️
Gaby KH
October 12, 2021 at 3:00 am
I’m not a fan of twerk culture but I’m glad I watched this because I was one of those folks who thought that Miley Cyrus invented it and came up with the name…
Persimmon
October 12, 2021 at 8:31 pm
I wish America never had slavery.
Katelyn Kim-Mulgrew
October 12, 2021 at 10:28 pm
we need more lectures from her <3
Kyiverdam
October 12, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Definitely not on a TED stage though.
magnus pym
October 13, 2021 at 11:10 am
No….We REALLY DON’T.The “common culture” is vulgar, trashy, I’m out of adjectives.
Javid Alasgarli
October 12, 2021 at 11:29 pm
love u, Lizzo
Brooklyn McKay
October 12, 2021 at 11:53 pm
woah ok comments. There are so many facets to culture, and though this might be hyper focused, it speaks of digesting the bigger issue; that of acceptance and acknowledgment. She can literally talk about what ever she wants to, and the fact that she came on a stage over-colluded with so many people saving face, and did something engaging and important and fun to her and those around her is amazing. This may have been a more casual topic, and they may be exploiting her, but oh baby there is such a heavier truth behind where this is stemming from.
Laura Soaries
October 13, 2021 at 4:22 am
🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
70b s13
October 13, 2021 at 5:47 am
I was hoping this video to be out ratiod by dislikes. Sigh, maybe in the future as people come to their senses.. it’ll have triple the dislikes.
Ryan H. Turner
October 13, 2021 at 7:20 am
The world is becoming a cess pool, and you’re helping it along, TED. UnnnnnnBELIEVABLE.
Andrea O
October 13, 2021 at 7:51 am
A damn shame coming from a black woman from west africa
Jelly AndJam
October 13, 2021 at 8:11 am
Cringe 👎👎
aly shep
October 13, 2021 at 8:24 am
Black and fat is unhealthy. Stop kidding yourself, there is life beyond food and fking
dsr521
October 13, 2021 at 8:44 am
This is from the director’s cut of “Idiocracy”. One of the lost scenes.
Hungry Zombie
October 13, 2021 at 9:35 am
There would be a lot less dislikes and horrible comments if Lizzo was a skinny white woman.
Alok Sen
October 13, 2021 at 10:28 am
This is GOLD!!!!!
OTR392
October 13, 2021 at 10:45 am
Remember back when people were famous because the general public liked them in great numbers? Instead now famous people get selected and we are told who is famous by the media.
G.I. MOE
October 13, 2021 at 10:57 am
Man….. I need cyanide now. Wtf is this?
magnus pym
October 13, 2021 at 11:08 am
“Superstar”?? Why (!!!!!!!) is this a “ted talk”????? Why?
no name
October 13, 2021 at 1:14 pm
🐷🤡🐷
Red Pill Trooper
October 13, 2021 at 1:25 pm
I stopped watching when she took off her shoes.
Susanna Nowland
October 13, 2021 at 4:26 pm
This comment section is so disappointing…. Y’all missed the WHOLE point of this. Let her do her thing, she owns every second of it
DonnieC TV
October 13, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Literally was reading the comments and thought the same 🤦🏽♂️
Ricky J Kuron
October 13, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Lizzo is and always will be my crush
Skyler Lewis
October 13, 2021 at 6:10 pm
This comment section sucks. She went up and talked about something relating to culture she feels strongly about. If you think it’s dumb or unimportant you don’t have to say anything just keep on scrolling. Don’t be mean when someone’s doing something that makes them and an entire audience smile.
Green-Pill Neo
October 13, 2021 at 6:18 pm
She is the queen of confusing arrogance with confidence.
uppclctn
October 14, 2021 at 12:56 am
I feel violated; I’m shocked/stunned. Not exaggerating, seriously!
Lions Den
October 14, 2021 at 1:29 am
Self love through twerking? YIKES…
S.A.D.V.now
October 14, 2021 at 11:01 pm
From what I can see in the comments most might not dance a lot. When dancing my body expresses it’s self in many ways as I’ve learned dances from around the world, I really love to dance and music moves me deeply. The butt part is a part like any other in those moments. I cannot and should not be responsible for what others may or may not think my intentions are. And no it’s mostly isn’t sexual. So ya also dancing is widely considered one of the physical activities that most promote intelligence. Since coordinating many muscle groups to sounds. rhythms and beats requires many parts of the brain and nervous system to work at the same time. So who knows maybe she’s on to something. Doing it at home for no one else but myself is in no way sexual but more the opportunity to move those body parts in intricate ways and that is healthy. Love out!
S Stagner
October 15, 2021 at 10:59 pm
Yessss! Well said
PurpleGuy87 Studios
October 14, 2021 at 11:22 pm
wait this isn’t free vbucks
dr rd
October 15, 2021 at 3:11 am
How can twerking be a “dance” it’s actually a “dance move” big difference there.
megatron, decepticon leader
October 15, 2021 at 8:06 am
Twerking on an ambulance was the highlight of 2020
Chris Oliver
October 15, 2021 at 1:30 pm
This video is proof that Ted Talks will bring on anyone
Jose Vasquez
October 15, 2021 at 5:12 pm
I just came here to dislike this video.
Tonesha Berry
October 15, 2021 at 6:56 pm
Lizzo you did your thing with this one I love the history and you have me life and I love your confidence thank you ❤️💪🏾❤️
Ricky J Kuron
October 15, 2021 at 10:14 pm
@Lizzo is beautiful, smart, sexy, and Fine! @TED when you hear from her, tell her that I have a crush on her
LOL LOLOL
October 16, 2021 at 1:47 am
delusional
LOL LOLOL
October 16, 2021 at 1:48 am
cindy wolfie is better.
S Stagner
October 15, 2021 at 11:11 pm
I thought the people who joined Ted Talk were open minded, not a group of closed minded douchebags that can’t see past what they would say, or what they would do. It’s like nobody heard a word she said, but can only focus on the twerk, and how theyyyy feeeeel about it. Lol. Good grief. I say bravo Lizzo. Bravo for embracing your culture, bravo for having the courage and the heart to try and share something personal to bridge the gap. Bravo for standing up for voluptuousness, for your culture, and for WOMEN.( yes I am giving you a standing ovation in my living room right now!). Good luck with Captain America girlfriend. If I may impart one word of advice? These shallow, closed minded, selfish, ignorant people who have forgot Mimi’s golden rule (if you can’t say something nice…) PLEASE don’t let them steal your joy baby girl. You were fanfuckingtastic! 😍
Michael Brown
October 15, 2021 at 11:34 pm
Embarrassing
Zari McFadden
October 16, 2021 at 1:23 am
I love her!! Great talk Lizzo
napoleonwasntshort
October 16, 2021 at 1:53 am
Really Lizzo? Like, really? This is just classless. Mannnn.
Kyiverdam
October 16, 2021 at 3:35 am
2:04 – “The first time I saw twerking in person”
Then exactly two minutes later…
4:04 – “I’ve been twerking my whole life”
Jalen Early
October 16, 2021 at 5:07 am
TED, you as an organization should be ashamed for promoting this.
Meshabeauty
October 16, 2021 at 2:35 pm
She outta pocket for this 🥴🤦🏾♀️
Surviving You Today
October 16, 2021 at 10:04 pm
Thank you Lizzo, our contributions matter. We love seeing other races of women get their twerk on, just please be respectful of where it started. Marginalized cultures deserve the credit and recognition for what they create.
Isabella Graber
October 16, 2021 at 10:14 pm
Thank you for sharing with us Lizzo 🙂 a beautiful reminder/example of black erasure.
Nternal
October 17, 2021 at 11:52 am
America turned into a south park episode.
Kay Bell
October 17, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Folks this is what being a pawn for ‘the man’ to push a specific ‘image’ of black women looks like. Take note. She’s a paid character to influence a generation of young women. Be aware of the agenda. It’s intentional.
Jim Bean
October 17, 2021 at 1:20 pm
God help us.
D Y
October 17, 2021 at 1:44 pm
Lizzo, how about all that exercise?! What for then?! Admit it already, you and I are huge because we EAT HUGE Girl!!!
D Y
October 17, 2021 at 1:47 pm
Ted has diminished its importance and worth. $$$ talks. Trash with cash talks. Shame, shame, shame TED!!!
sadie_xo
October 17, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Y’all really hate to see confident women hmmm
Noel Snave
October 17, 2021 at 8:51 pm
Broo who wants to see a land whail twerk?
mohammed
October 17, 2021 at 11:02 pm
Lizzo is bad for humanity