Dua Lipa Reveals How Her Haters Have 'Fueled' Her: 'I Get a Real Kick Out of Proving People Wrong' (Exclusive)

"I think everything comes in stages and waves," Lipa told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1

Dua Lipa has some words for her haters.

In a sneak peek of an interview with Zane Lowe airing on Apple Music 1 on Wednesday, May 1, the "Houdini" singer, 28 opened up about dealing with people who have criticized her publicly over the years.

"I think everything comes in stages and waves," she told the radio host, 50. "There can be a moment where people really love you and you feel so supported and you're like, 'Oh, this is great.' Especially in the beginning. I was doing interviews and people were like, 'How do you deal with hate?' And I'm like, 'I don't get any hate. It's great.' And then that changed really quickly."

Dua Lipa on Apple Music 1
Dua Lipa and Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.

Apple

Lipa recalled experiencing vitriol when she'd won the Grammy for best new artist in 2019.

"There was people online being like, 'She's not deserving of it. She's got no stage presence. She can't do this. She's not well- equipped to, she's not even ... She won't be here next year,'" the pop star recalled. "There was a lot of that. That fueled me in a way."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Still, Lipa has tried not to "use criticism as this revenge" and instead tries to "take a step back" when she sees negative comments.

"I just go, 'OK, all of this is background noise and I should just stick on my path," the "Training Season" musician said. "Because every time someone has doubted me, I've proved them wrong. And for me, I'm like, this is fueling me. This is pushing me to be better, to work hard. And I get a real kick out of proving people wrong."

Dua Lipa on Apple Music 1
Dua Lipa speaks to Apple Music's Zane Lowe.

Apple

Lipa also spoke about finding forgiveness in past relationships, and how it has allowed her "to move on with what's to come next."

"With every relationship, with every experience you learn about yourself, you learn about things that are hurtful to you, what you expect, what you should be ready to give as well. It goes back to that exchange of vulnerability. I've had relationships which have been really hurtful — especially earlier on, where I've been made to feel like not good enough or have made me lose my confidence. And I've had to find that again," she said while discussing her new song "Happy for You" and how it's "reflective" of her journey.

"You learn about your own non-negotiables. I think that's an important thing. It's of course [about] the right person, but it's really about the right relationship. And you find that in friendships and in love relationships as well — your non-negotiables. What are you willing to give up? ... Maybe you have an ick or something, or you see that someone is disloyal. I'm like, 'That's a non-negotiable.' I want someone who's loyal and open and honest, and that's what I'm willing to be as well in return. You figure out what those things are for you."

Dua Lipa, Zane Lowe
Dua Lipa and Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1.

Apple

Lipa will release her third studio album, Radical Optimism, on May 3.

The 11-track project will features singles "Houdini," which features electro-psychedelic elements and reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its disco-pop follow-up, "Training Season," that hit No. 27 on the chart.

In a statement from March, the "One Kiss" performer discussed the meaning behind her album title: "A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term Radical Optimism. It’s a concept that resonated with me, and I became more curious as I started to play with it and weave it into my life. It struck me – the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm."

Lipa added that she would be exploring "confidently optimistic" genres like psychedelia, trip hop, and Britpop on Radical Optimism.

Tune into the full interview with Zane Lowe at 1 p.m. EST Wednesday, May 1 on Apple Music.

Related Articles