Lizzo Sued for Copyright Infringement Over Snippet That References Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial American Eagle Ad

In a new copyright lawsuit filed in California, musician Lizzo has been named as the defendant by The GRC Trust, a Georgia-based entity that has pursued similar actions against other artists. The case originates from an August social media video in which Lizzo performed a segment of an unreleased song, tentatively titled “I’m Goin’ In Till October.” That performance included a portion of “Win or Lose (We Tried),” a composition whose publishing rights belong to the plaintiff.

The clip was part of a lighthearted series where Lizzo joked about an American Eagle campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney, even referencing it with the line, “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.” According to BMI records, the sampled track “Win or Lose (We Tried)” was written by Sam Dees—a songwriter with 399 BMI credits—while its publishing is controlled by Jimmy Ginn. This situation underscores how quickly copyright issues can arise, even from informal online content that isn't intended for sale. As one industry attorney observed, "Platforms like Instagram and TikTok blur the line between personal expression and commercial use, making every post a potential legal minefield."

GRC’s legal team claims that Lizzo and her label, Atlantic Records—a Warner Music Group subsidiary home to stars such as Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars—gained financially from the alleged infringement and that pre-litigation settlement talks were unsuccessful. The plaintiffs are pursuing all profits tied to the infringement, plus damages and attorney fees. In response, a representative for Lizzo told the BBC they were “surprised” by the suit and emphasized that the track “has never been commercially released or monetised.”

The GRC Trust has been active in pursuing such claims. Last September, it filed a comparable lawsuit against Kanye West, his Yeezy brand, the tech firm Kano, and rapper Vory. That case centers on the purported unauthorized use of “Always Keep Your Love (Just Out of My Reach)” in West’s song “Lord Lift Me Up.” Notably, Sam Dees also co-wrote that track, with Jimmy Ginn again holding publishing rights. Legal counsel for Yeezy has moved to dismiss the suit, with a hearing set for November 19th.

Lizzo is no stranger to copyright disputes. Her 2019 chart-topper “Truth Hurts,” which spent seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was the subject of earlier litigation. Although most claims in that suit were dismissed, it resulted in singer Mina Lioness—who originally posted the lyric “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch” on Twitter—being added as an official co-writer. These repeated legal challenges highlight the persistent copyright risks facing artists who blend social media engagement with new material.