Zara Larsson is clapping back after Chris Brown unexpectedly dragged her name into his latest social media rant over criticism surrounding his new album. The pop singer responded after Brown referenced her while venting about Pitchfork’s brutal review of his latest project, Brown, which the outlet famously scored a dismal 1.3 out of 10. During his Instagram Stories rant, Brown told critics unhappy with the album, “If you not my fan, I don’t want you to listen to my sh-t. Go listen to motherf-ckin’ Zara Larsson or somebody.”
Larsson did not stay quiet for long. After Brown’s comments began circulating online, the Swedish pop star responded bluntly. “Who the f-ck are you?” Larsson reportedly said while reacting to the unexpected name-drop.
Larsson has been openly critical of Brown for years, particularly due to his history of abuse allegations and controversies. Earlier this year, she revealed during an interview with Cosmopolitan that she intentionally blocks certain artists from appearing in her Spotify playlists.
“There are so many artists I have blocked on Spotify, and all of them are, like, abusers,” Larsson explained in the February interview. “You certainly wouldn’t find, like, a Chris Brown song.”
Following the exchange, fans quickly flooded social media with reactions, with many claiming Brown’s attempt to mock Larsson actually boosted support for the singer instead. Several users began comparing streaming numbers, album reviews, and Spotify listeners between the two artists. “Trust me Sh-t Brown….we ARE listening to Zara Larsson,” one user wrote online while pointing out that Larsson currently has more monthly Spotify listeners than Brown.
Brown’s comments toward Larsson came shortly after Pitchfork’s review of Brown went massively viral online, reportedly earning more than 10 million views across X within a single day. “[Brown] isn’t romantic or funny or sexy or sultry or dancey or soulful or vulnerable or honest or creative or inspired whatsoever,” Pierre wrote. “It’s soulless, hit-chasing music with nothing going for it if you aren’t personally invested in the Chris Brown culture wars.”
Chris Brown Insists He’s Unbothered By Album Backlash
Despite the backlash and harsh reviews, Brown’s album is still projected to debut at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Pitchfork’s now-viral review labeled the project “soulless” and accused Brown of making “hit-chasing music,” further fueling debate online over the singer’s career and continued popularity.
Still, Brown has insisted he remains unfazed by the criticism and previously told fans he knows exactly who his audience is.
The online drama surrounding Larsson and Brown comes just days after the pop singer made headlines for an unexpected wardrobe malfunction during her performance on NBC’s “Today” show. Larsson helped kick off the morning show’s Summer Concert Series on May 8, performing several of her hits, including “Midnight Sun,” “Pretty Ugly,” and “Stateside,” in front of fans gathered at Rockefeller Plaza.
However, things took a chaotic turn during her performance of “Lush Life” when one of her sparkly silver heels reportedly broke mid-dance routine. The moment happened shortly after Larsson invited “Today” co-host Sheinelle Jones onstage to participate in the viral “Lush Life” dance, something the singer often does with fans during concerts. “
We gotta dance extra hard because I lost my heel!” Larsson joked while lifting her foot to reveal the broken stiletto heel, and that she did. Later, when she returned during the “3rd Hour of Today” to perform her song “Blue Moon,” the damaged shoe had been swapped out for a fresh pair.
Just weeks before finding herself at the center of the Chris Brown drama, Larsson opened up about the legendary artists who inspired her own music career. While attending the Billboard Women in Music event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on April 29, the Swedish singer was honored as this year’s Breakthrough Artist.
During the event, Larsson revealed which four artists she believes belong on her personal “Mount Rushmore” of pop music. “My four are the people that raised me,” the “Midnight Sun” singer said before naming Christina Aguilera, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston.