LOS ANGELES: American pop star Lizzo is facing a new legal battle in California after being sued for allegedly using an unauthorized sample in an unreleased track that went viral earlier this year for referencing actress Sydney Sweeney.
The controversy stems from a brief clip of the unreleased song — titled “I’m Goin’ In Till October” — that Lizzo posted on social media in August, which quickly went viral due to a cheeky lyric referencing the Euphoria and The White Lotus star.
In the clip, Lizzo, dressed casually while washing a car, sings, “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney,” — a playful nod to Sweeney’s viral American Eagle jeans advertisement that set the internet ablaze for its wordplay-laden tagline: “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
Copyright Lawsuit Over 1970s Soul Sample
According to court filings, GRC Trust, the copyright holder of the 1970s soul ballad “Win or Lose (We Tried)” by the American band Windy City, claims that Lizzo’s viral clip contains an unauthorized sample from the song.
The firm’s lawyers allege that the singer and her production team “knowingly used” the sample without proper clearance, profiting from the attention and engagement generated by the viral post.
“Defendants obtained profits they would not have realized but for their infringement of the plaintiff’s rights,” the complaint reads.
GRC Trust is seeking monetary damages equivalent to Lizzo’s alleged profits and the firm’s own losses, as well as an injunction to block any future release or distribution of the track.
The lawsuit also claims that GRC attempted to reach an informal settlement with Lizzo’s representatives before talks “reached an impasse, necessitating legal action.”
Lizzo Responds to the Lawsuit
In a statement to AFP, a representative for Lizzo expressed surprise at the lawsuit, clarifying that the song in question was never commercially released or monetized.
“To be clear, the song has never been commercially released or monetized, and no decision has been made at this time regarding any future commercial release of the song,” the representative said.
The spokesperson added that the viral clip was intended for social engagement, not profit, and emphasized Lizzo’s respect for artists’ rights.
Sydney Sweeney’s Viral Ad Controversy
The original American Eagle campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney had sparked its own wave of controversy online earlier this year. The ad, which used the pun “great jeans” to highlight both the actress’s figure and the denim line, led some online activists to accuse the campaign of promoting “white supremacist undertones.”
However, the criticism was largely dismissed by commentators and even drew backlash from conservative figures such as Senator Ted Cruz, who accused “the crazy Left” of overreacting.
A Case of Viral Culture Meets Copyright Law
Legal experts note that the Lizzo case underscores a growing challenge in the digital era — where even unreleased songs and viral snippets can trigger legal disputes if they incorporate unlicensed material.
While the outcome remains uncertain, the lawsuit adds another layer of scrutiny to the artist’s social media activity — and highlights how quickly internet fame can turn into a courtroom battle.
