The Grammy-winning singer is being sued by Georgia-based GRC Trust for allegedly sampling a 1970s soul song in an unreleased TikTok clip.
Pop superstar Lizzo has found herself in legal trouble after being hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over an unreleased track that briefly surfaced on social media.
According to court filings made on October 21, Georgia-based rights holder GRC Trust has accused the About Damn Time hitmaker of using unauthorized elements from the 1970s soul tune “Win or Lose (We Tried)” by Sam Dees. The lawsuit claims Lizzo incorporated parts of the track into an original song snippet she posted on TikTok earlier this summer.
In the short 13-second clip, Lizzo playfully referenced actress Sydney Sweeney’s viral American Eagle advertisement, singing: “B***, I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.”*
Despite the fact that the track was never commercially released or monetized, GRC Trust argues that Lizzo’s brief online preview still qualifies as a copyright violation due to public exposure of the work. The trust, which lists Jimmy Ginn as the publishing rights owner, said it attempted to resolve the matter directly with Lizzo’s team but that talks “reached an impasse, necessitating the filing of this case.”
In response, Lizzo’s representatives expressed surprise over the legal move, insisting that the singer did not profit from the unreleased material. “We are surprised that the GRC Trust filed this lawsuit,” a spokesperson said.
“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.”
The lawsuit arrives amid a period of creative and professional frustration for the Grammy-winning artist, who recently voiced concerns about the state of the modern music industry. In a recent TikTok video, Lizzo admitted she has been “stressing out” over streaming algorithms, claiming they make it harder for artists to connect with their audiences.
Last month, she released her 13-track mixtape My Face Hurts From Smiling, featuring collaborations with SZA and Doja Cat, but she fears that many fans “don’t even know” she dropped new music. “The music industry is in complete shambles right now,” she said, pointing to the oversaturation of digital platforms and unpredictable algorithmic reach.
While she acknowledged that apps like TikTok have been beneficial for new artists, Lizzo argued that the same systems are hurting established musicians like herself, leaving even top names — from Lady Gaga to Drake — struggling to find widespread success in today’s digital chaos.
