Three of Lizzo's former backup dancers have filed a lawsuit against her, accusing her of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment.
Singer Lizzo is facing a damaging lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers, who have accused her of pressuring and weight shaming them. In addition to false detention, handicap discrimination, and sexual, racial, and religious harassment, among other serious allegations.
Lizzo Faces Damaging Lawsuit
The lawsuit was obtained by USA TODAY and paints a strikingly different picture of the artist known for promoting body positivity. Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing the dancers, expressed shock at the allegations, noting that they seem to contradict Lizzo's public stance on body positivity.
The lawsuit claims that while Lizzo promotes body acceptance publicly, she allegedly engaged in weight-shaming and demeaning behavior toward her dancers in private.
In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, plaintiffs Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez described a series of disturbing incidents, including one at an Amsterdam strip club where Lizzo reportedly pressured one dancer to touch a nude performer.
The lawsuit also alleges that Lizzo made lewd and inappropriate requests during performances. The plaintiffs claim that Lizzo and her management team treated them in ways that were not only illegal but also demoralizing.
Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez are the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. It includes charges of sexual, racial, and religious harassment, assault, false detention, and handicap discrimination.
Lizzo (born Melissa Viviane Jefferson), Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, Lizzo's dance team captain and judge on her Amazon series "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrls," are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as per The Hill.
Several accusations have been made against Lizzo by members of her former dancing squad. The lawsuit describes a night out in Amsterdam in February when the dancers and Lizzo went to a club called Bananenbar in the Red Light District.
At this club, guests are permitted to mingle with nudist performers. According to the lawsuit, Davis frequently implied she didn't want to interact with a performer but was then forced to do so. The lawsuit claims that Lizzo forced a security guy to remove his pants on stage.
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Former Dancers Accuse Lizzo of Mistreatment and Retaliation
According to the lawsuit, Lizzo allegedly made her dancers go through a 12-hour rehearsal after falsely claiming they had been drinking before performances.
Williams lost her job shortly after speaking out about the claim, while Davis soiled her pants due to stress during the intense rehearsal and was given a see-through outfit without undergarments for the performance.
The lawsuit also highlights instances of alleged retaliation against the dancers. When Rodriguez complained about Williams' public firing, Lizzo reportedly became furious and held a meeting where dancers' phones were confiscated.
Davis recorded a subsequent meeting, leading to her immediate dismissal, according to the lawsuit.
These accusations present a stark contrast to Lizzo's public persona, as she faces allegations of mistreatment and harassment towards her former dancers.
As the legal battle unfolds, Lizzo has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. The case brings attention to the importance of treating employees with respect and dignity and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their public image, are held accountable for their actions, Daily Mail reported
