In a recent interview with The Guardian, Dua Lipa opened up about the hurtful experience of being criticized online for her performance of “New Rules” at the Brit Awards in 2018. A clip of her doing a dance move that was later dubbed the “pencil sharpener” became a meme, leading to harsh comments about her stage presence and future in the music industry. Lipa admitted that the criticism was humiliating, forcing her to take a break from Twitter to avoid the negativity.
Despite the hurtful comments, Lipa continued to focus on her passion for performing and writing songs, which she described as the things that make her happiest. She acknowledged that the scrutiny of her performances was part of her growth process as an artist, but emphasized that it was difficult to do so publicly. Lipa explained that she was still figuring out her identity as a performer while facing criticism from the public, forcing her to develop tough skin and resilience to overcome the negative feedback.
Lipa highlighted that the criticism she faced was based on a small snippet of a larger performance, noting that those who had seen her perform live during her first album tour would have a different perspective. It wasn’t until she released her album Future Nostalgia and performed “Don’t Start Now” at the MTV Europe Music Awards that Lipa felt vindicated. The positive reception of her performance marked a turning point in how she was perceived by the public, shifting the conversation from critiquing her dance moves to praising her growth as a performer.
Reflecting on her journey, Lipa expressed that she always strived to improve her skills on stage, regardless of the criticism she faced online. She emphasized her commitment to becoming a good performer and shared her satisfaction in proving her critics wrong with her performances. Lipa’s recent release of her third studio album Radical Optimism showcases her evolution as an artist and her dedication to honing her craft.
Despite the challenges she faced early in her career, Lipa’s perseverance and resilience have led her to becoming a Grammy-winning pop star and hitmaker. By staying true to her passion for music and continuously working to improve her skills as a performer, Lipa has overcome the hurtful comments and emerged stronger. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists navigating the pressures of the music industry and the online world, showing that with determination and perseverance, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
