Ari Lennox has kicked off the countdown to completely leaving all social media platforms by offering fans a detailed explanation of her decision.
Ironically, the DC native made the announcement on Friday (October 11) via social media, posting the same mirror selfie and lengthy caption on Instagram and Facebook.
“I'm working on a plan to get off social media completely,” the Dreamville singer began. “I don't believe I'll ever grow up and be happy as long as I have this. So my last day of socializing will be December 18, my 2nd anniversary of sobriety. I will permanently delete my FB, IG and TikTok. The fear of losing brand deals, music sales, niggas and bets won't keep me here anymore.
“To all my beautiful fans: I am not happy or growing here. I have a very toxic and co-dependent relationship with these apps. My happiness is more important to me than using these platforms to promote myself. I truly believe I can be creative with my marketing elsewhere. I am exhausted by my addiction to the Internet, gossip, attention, validation and the longing for control and sharing. I just want to be free and complete.”
She added: “I would like to offer other spaces where you can find me, which are YouTube.com/arilennox and Arilennox.com and on or off stage singing. I didn't come to the fore like it was cute, right. I love you very much. Sign up to my mailing list on my website to stay up to date with my 2025 album and tour (heart emoji) or don't (wink and kiss emoji) (My single Smoke drops 18/10 (removed emoji) language))
“It's also my fault if my drama causes any distraction or insensitivity, because I am aware of the constant horror that is happening in the world. I just have to let my loved ones know. Everything will be fine and I'm looking forward to this trip. I am an extreme person. It will be all or nothing with me forever.
She signed off using both her stage name, Ari, and real name, Courtney.
While fans flooded the comments on her Facebook post with expressions of support and empathy, fans on Instagram had no way to comment on the post at all. The IG post actually received over 100,000 likes within the first two hours.
In December, Ari Lennox shared an update on her ongoing sobriety, reflecting on her past self and how far she's come in the year since changing her lifestyle, along with a series of photos of herself looking healthy.
“You see, drinking was my ritual to combat my overwhelming fear of flying,” she wrote, before detailing a near-death experience in which she drank way too much. “Only alcohol” could kill me. Many guardian angels were watching over me that day. Thank God no one was filming (I pray and hope (crying emoji, side eye emoji)), it was truly divine.
She added: “I have decided that December 18, 2022 will be the day I get clean. You know what I realized after a year of many sober flights? I've never needed alcohol to survive a flight. I thought I needed alcohol to escape reality and cope. I needed an excuse to drink and not feel the pain of everyday life and trauma. It was my numbing vacation where I avoided my purpose and truth.
“Thank you to my fans. I love it when you share your sober dreams and holidays with me. This brings up so many emotions in me. I am very proud of you and I love you all very much. We can do this.”
Lennox's social media announcement came just a day after she offered fans a first taste of the upcoming single, which she hinted at in the post.
On Thursday (October 10), the “Pressure” singer released a snippet of her upcoming music video for “Smoke,” in which she can be seen giving an old-school performance, singing, “Save all your fucks for me/I want all the smoke“
Check out the preview below.
