--- title: What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. canonical: https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/ author: Michelle Peng article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2022-06-24T10:46:17.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-28T07:07:14.102Z article:section: Charter og:title: What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology og:description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. og:url: https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbafd96ad58db1fc0/698a332309208f7c69419491/Lizzo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1664 og:image:height: 936 og:image:alt: YouTube Brandcast 2022 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology twitter:description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbafd96ad58db1fc0/698a332309208f7c69419491/Lizzo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- The information presented here is created by Charter, independently from the TIME editorial staff.  Time charter * [leadership](/partner-content/charter/tag/leadership/) ## leadership # What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Subscription: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923, reporting on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world. A TIME subscription provides full access to that journalism in print and digital, from $20 a year, and can be cancelled at any time. 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Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is included in a TIME print and digital subscription? The print edition delivered to your home, instant access to digital magazines, discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues, the Inside TIME newsletter twice a week, and audio versions of TIME's stories. It is from $29 for one year or $49 for two years at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### What is the difference between TIME's digital and print plans? Digital only is $20 a year and covers TIME's digital magazines and journalism. Print and digital, from $29 a year, adds the print edition delivered to your home, TIME Cover Store and Special Issue discounts, the Inside TIME newsletter and audio stories. #### Is TIME a reliable news source? TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923. Its journalism is reported and edited by a professional newsroom led by Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs, with named correspondents on politics, climate, health, technology and culture. It reaches 1 million US print subscribers and 1.15 million globally, plus more than 1.1 million newsletter readers. #### How do I subscribe to TIME magazine? Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. Choose digital only at $20 a year, or print and digital from $29 a year or $49 for two years. TIME also publishes seven free email newsletters at time.com/newsletters, which do not require a subscription. #### Can I cancel a TIME subscription? Yes. TIME states that subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. #### Does TIME have free newsletters? Yes. TIME publishes seven free email newsletters reaching more than 1.1 million readers, covering daily news, Washington politics, health, AI, climate and energy, culture, and the newsroom itself. They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-sub-2026q3/newsletters?i=ef14019d-12c2-4a99-8823-44dc1f2f9808&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1) * TIME Subscriptions: [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-sub-2026q3/subscribe?i=ef14019d-12c2-4a99-8823-44dc1f2f9808&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1)  by [Michelle Peng](https://time.com/author/michelle-peng/) Jun 24, 2022 10:46 AM UTC  Lizzo performs onstage. Lizzo performs onstage. Getty Images for Youtube / Getty Images  by [Michelle Peng](https://time.com/author/michelle-peng/) Jun 24, 2022 10:46 AM UTC In mid-June, recording artist Lizzo released an edited version of her song ‘Grrls’ after fans called out the original version’s use of the word “spaz,” a pejorative term against people with disabilities. After she apologized and announced the new version, [fans quickly forgave](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/arts/music/lizzo-lyrics-grrrls.html), showing how powerful humility, accountability, and continual learning can be. An ability to learn and evolve from missteps is [one of the most important skills](https://www.charterworks.com/emtech-next-summit-takeaways/) for people leaders, as Katie Burke, chief people officer at HubSpot, recently explained at EmTech Next, a conference co-produced by Charter and _MIT Technology Review_. “I do think all of us as leaders have an obligation to stay curious,” she said. “\[You\] can never get it wrong if you’re approaching things with empathy and curiosity.” And while it played out far from a traditional workplace setting, Lizzo’s acknowledgement of her mistake is also a case study for organizational leaders in how to take accountability. Here’s what she got right—and how others can model her apology. Sign up for Charter's newsletter to get the handbook for the future of work delivered to your inbox. Email Address You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our [Terms of Service](https://www.charterworks.com/terms-of-service/) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.charterworks.com/privacy-policy/). **Fast is better than perfect.** Lizzo [posted](https://twitter.com/lizzo/status/1536480260732047361?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1536480260732047361%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Few.com%2Fmusic%2Flizzo-releases-new-version-grrrls-with-lyric-change%2F) her apology on Twitter and Instagram and released the re-recorded song just three days after the original version of ‘Grrrls’ was released on June 10th, a reaction that has been praised for its swiftness. In the wake of controversy, it’s common practice for for leaders to prioritize fact-finding or fine-tuning their statements over moving quickly to address the harm caused. “Often executives want to get to the bottom of things to figure out what really happened,” says Maurice Schweitzer, author of _Friend and Foe_ and professor of management at Wharton School of Business.“\[But\] speed signals candor and remorse in ways that a very thoughtful apology delivered later cannot.” Schweitzer gives the example of United Airlines, which was slow to admit wrongdoing after videos of security officers violently removing a passenger started circulating online in 2017\. The bungled response that followed included [several subsequent apologies](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/business/united-airlines-passenger-doctor.html) to an unsatisfied public. The response stands in contrast to that of Southwest Airlines in the wake of a fatal crash at Chicago Midway Airport in 2005\. Almost immediately, the CEO flew to Chicago to publicly apologize, spurring headlines like “[Southwest response called swift, caring.](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-10-0512100076-story.html)” **Accept responsibility without qualification.** In contemporary pop music, hits are often written collaboratively, and ‘Grrrls’ has no fewer than eight writers credited on the track. Still, Lizzo framed the mistake in her apology as one made by her alone. Accepting blame isn’t just important for rebuilding relationships. It can be good for business, too, according to a [2015 study](https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/corfin/v33y2015icp1-18.html) that examined 150 corporate press releases over a 15-year period. The authors found that companies that blamed their failures on external factors tended to see an extended financial decline, while those that accepted responsibility saw their earnings stabilize and recover, likely because they were more easily able to build credibility with investors and correct course. **Maintain a learning posture.** Lizzo acknowledged in her post that the apology came about as “the result of \[her\] listening and learning” after fans shared their concerns. As HubSpot’s Burke pointed out at EmTech Next, this orientation toward learning isn’t the same thing as people-pleasing—rather, it's about keeping an open mind and listening with empathy when confronted about a possible mistake. As an example, Burke shared how she responds during conversations like these: “Talk to me about why….Let’s understand what we can learn from it, understanding that I’m not necessarily going to work to make you happy or perfectly content here, but I am going to listen with a ton of intentionality about how I could have done better.” **Take concrete steps to repair harm.** Most importantly, Lizzo’s words were accompanied by action: Re-releasing her song without the offending lyrics demonstrated that she was not only willing to admit her mistake, but correct it as well. As Schweitzer notes, an impactful apology communicates both regret and a commitment to change, especially when that change comes at a personal cost. Re-recording the song “is clearly a costly step that takes time and money,” he explains. “\[By\] paying the price, you can demonstrate that you have centered their concerns. You care about their feelings.” For managers as well as public figures, that’s the real power of an apology: the opportunity to repair relationships and rebuild trust. --- ## Read more from Charter [READ MORE](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/) [Open article: What Jared Diamond Says Decides Whether Leaders Actually Matter](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/what-jared-diamond-says-decides-whether-leaders-actually-matter/)  ### What Jared Diamond Says Decides Whether Leaders Actually Matter [READ MORE](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/what-jared-diamond-says-decides-whether-leaders-actually-matter/) [Open article: Dr. Becky on What Good Parenting and Good Leadership Have in Common](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/dr-becky-on-what-good-parenting-and-good-leadership-have-in-common/)  ### Dr. Becky on What Good Parenting and Good Leadership Have in Common [READ MORE](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/dr-becky-on-what-good-parenting-and-good-leadership-have-in-common/) [Open article: The Three Ingredients for Building Trust](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/the-three-ingredients-for-building-trust/)  ### The Three Ingredients for Building Trust [READ MORE](https://time.com/partner-content/charter/the-three-ingredients-for-building-trust/) --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/"},"headline":"What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology","datePublished":"2022-06-24T10:46:17.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-28T07:07:14.102Z","description":"The singer's statement on 'Grrrls' is a case study for managers in how to handle workplace mistakes.","url":"https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbafd96ad58db1fc0/698a332309208f7c69419491/Lizzo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Peng","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/michelle-peng/"}],"articleSection":"Charter","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbafd96ad58db1fc0/698a332309208f7c69419491/Lizzo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"YouTube Brandcast 2022","caption":"YouTube Brandcast 2022","creditText":"","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/partner-content/charter/6190644/lizzo-apology/","name":"What Workplace Leaders Can Learn from Lizzo’s Apology"}}]}] ```