A church elder has sued Grammy-winning artist Lizzo over hymnal samples obtained from a funeral that was subsequently used in her 2016 song, “Coconut Oil.”
The Detroit News reported Orlandus Dunning of Detroit is suing the singer, rapper and flutist for damages for $750,000 he claims are related to the emotional distress he suffered as a result of the song’s release. Named in the lawsuit are Lizzo – whose legal name is Melissa Jefferson; Atlantic Records; Warner Music Group, which owns the subsidiary Atlantic Records; and Nice Life Recording Company.
Dunning, an elder of Church of God in Christ, claims “Coconut Oil” contains certain portions of a hymn he sang at a mutual relative’s funeral and are used at the beginning and the end of the song. In the claim, he asserts there was an expectation of privacy that was violated when Lizzo recorded snippets that were then used in her song.
“When Plaintiff sang the devotional, it was at a private funeral and done for the specific purpose of uplifting his family and friends during their time of bereavement. (Dunning) had a reasonable expectation of privacy and that his voice would not be heard publicly, as the funeral where he sang was held privately and open only to family and close friends,” the lawsuit said.
The suit goes on to say that Lizzo did not seek Dunning’s permission for the use of the sample and that he would not have granted it because “the message in the song is contradictory to his own brand and beliefs as an ordained elder in the Church of God In Christ.” The lawsuit also contends that Lizzo should have known this but does not give specific reasons as to why Dunning objects to the song’s content.
“Coconut Oil” was the title track off of Lizzo’s first release with a major record label’s backing. The six-song EP reached #31 on the Billboard charts in the United States. However, the song itself did not chart.
Upon its release in 2016, Lizzo told Rolling Stone that “Coconut Oil” was a song that “celebrated” how Black women connected with her music and the journey she was taking as an artist.
“There’s self-exploration. There’s self-love. Then there’s self-realization. “Coconut Oil” is the ultimate ode to self-care and to my process. I’m not there yet, but I’m creating my music so I can get there.”
The Detroit News reached out to Lizzo’s legal counsel, David Landry, for comment on the case but did not get a response.
