Law Advocate Group, LLP 
Pop star Lizzo and her label, Atlantic Records, are facing a new legal challenge after the GRC Trust filed a federal lawsuit accusing them of copyright infringement. The case centers around an unreleased track that went viral online earlier this year, allegedly incorporating elements from a 1970s soul recording owned by GRC.
The Song at the Center of the Dispute
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Lizzo, or Melissa Jefferson, allegedly sampled or interpolated portions of “Win or Lose (We Tried)”, a song originally recorded by soul singer Sam Dees. The lawsuit claims that instrumental and vocal sections from that track were used without authorization in Lizzo’s song, which fans have referred to as “I’m Goin’ In Till October” or “Good Jeans.”
The controversy began in August when Lizzo posted a short snippet of the song on TikTok and Instagram. The clip quickly caught attention for its reference to actress Sydney Sweeney and her advertising campaign for American Eagle Jeans, which had stirred debate over beauty standards and representation in fashion.
GRC’s Legal Claims
In its filing, the GRC Trust argues that Lizzo and Atlantic Records “willfully infringed” on its copyright and are seeking damages that include all profits allegedly tied to the infringement, as well as compensation for the trust’s financial losses. The organization is also asking the court for an injunction to block Lizzo and her team from further distributing or profiting from the disputed composition.
The trust says it attempted to resolve the matter privately before resorting to legal action, but discussions reportedly “reached an impasse.”
Lizzo’s Response
Lizzo’s representatives expressed surprise at the lawsuit, emphasizing that the song in question has never been commercially released or monetized. “We are surprised that The GRC Trust filed this lawsuit,” her spokesperson said in a statement. “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.”
As of now, the original posts featuring the track have been removed from Lizzo’s social media accounts.
From Viral Clip to Legal Drama
The brief clip, being only about 13 seconds long, showed Lizzo washing a Porsche while wearing denim singing a lyric that referenced Sweeney’s ad campaign: “I got good jeans like I’m Sydney.” The line sparked both amusement and controversy online, with some publications reading it as social commentary on the debate surrounding Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign. Lizzo later followed up with a parody video responding to conservative backlash, turning the moment into a humorous take on cultural polarization.
A Familiar Battle for Lizzo
This isn’t the first time the Grammy-winning artist has faced a copyright dispute. Back in 2019, she was sued by three producers who claimed her chart-topping hit “Truth Hurts” borrowed from a song they co-wrote with her years earlier. That case was eventually settled out of court. Lizzo also faced separate claims from singer Mina Lioness, who said Lizzo used her viral social media phrase — “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch” — without credit. Lizzo later added Lioness as a co-writer on the song.
Broader Implications
Interestingly, GRC Trust is also pursuing a similar case against Kanye West, alleging that he used another Sam Dees track without permission on his song “Lord Lift Me Up.” These back-to-back lawsuits highlight the ongoing challenges artists face when using samples or references in a digital era where even short clips can reach millions.
As for Lizzo, the case underscores how easily a viral moment — even one meant as a playful social media post — can become a complex legal entanglement. Whether the court will side with GRC or the “About Damn Time” singer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in the age of online virality, the line between inspiration and infringement is thinner than ever.
