Lizzo is breaking her silence about what she calls an “outrageous” lawsuit filed by three former dancers who allege a hostile work atmosphere and sexual harassment. She says the previous few days amid the fallout have been “gut-wrenchingly troublesome.”
“Too outrageous to not be addressed”
In an announcement posted to social media on Thursday, two days after the lawsuit was filed, the 35-year-old hit again on the plaintiffs — former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez — over the allegations made in opposition to her, her manufacturing firm (Massive Grrrl Massive Touring) and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley.
“These previous few days have been gut-wrenchingly troublesome and overwhelmingly disappointing,” Lizzo (born Melissa Viviane Jefferson) wrote. “My work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Often I selected not to reply to false allegations however these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
She stated, “the sensationalized tales are coming from former staff who’ve already publicly admitted they had been informed their habits on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
She stated as an artist, she takes her “music and my performances severely” and has “excessive requirements.”
“Typically I’ve to make exhausting selections but it surely’s by no means been my intention to make anybody really feel uncomfortable or like they are not valued as an essential a part of the crew,” Lizzo wrote.
The Grammy winner — recognized for her physique positivity — stated she’s “not the villain” she’s been made out to be because the fallout from the lawsuit grows.
“I’m not right here to be checked out as a sufferer, however I additionally know that I’m not the villain that folks and the media have portrayed me to be these previous few days,” she wrote. “I’m very open with my sexuality and expressing myself however I can’t settle for or enable individuals to make use of that openness to make me out to be one thing I’m not. There may be nothing I take extra severely than the respect we deserve as girls on this planet. I do know what it feels prefer to be body-shamed each day and would completely by no means criticize or terminate an worker due to their weight.”
She concluded by saying, “I am harm however I can’t let the great work I’ve performed on this planet be overshadowed by this. I need to thank everybody who has reached out in assist to elevate me up throughout this troublesome time.”
Ron Zambrano, who represents the plaintiffs, launched his personal assertion to Yahoo after the “Fact Hurts” singer’s response.
“Lizzo has failed her personal model and has let down her followers,” he stated. “Her denial of this reprehensible habits solely provides to our purchasers’ emotional misery. The dismissive feedback and utter lack of empathy are fairly telling about her character and solely serve to attenuate the trauma she has brought about the plaintiffs and different staff who’ve now come ahead sharing their very own unfavorable experiences. Whereas Lizzo notes it was by no means her intention ‘to make anybody really feel uncomfortable,’ that’s precisely what she did to the purpose of demoralizing her dancers and flagrantly violating the regulation.”
The lawsuit allegations
The three former dancers sued Lizzo and her crew in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom for sexual harassment and making a hostile work atmosphere.
Davis and Williams met the “About Rattling Time” singer in March 2021 after they had been to compete on her actuality TV present Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Massive Grrrls. They had been chosen to her dance crew, however had been later fired. Rodriguez was employed in Might 2021 to carry out in Lizzo’s “Rumors” music video after which went on tour with the singer, however resigned earlier this yr.
Whereas Yahoo breaks down the total allegations right here, among the many claims is that Lizzo weight-shamed one of many girls. Two allege they had been pressured into nude photoshoots. One stated she was pressured to the touch a nude performer at an Amsterdam membership One claimed to be almost assaulted by Lizzo. Additionally they allege that the singer subjected them to an “excruciating” audition, after falsely blaming them for ingesting whereas working.
The captain of Lizzo’s dance crew is accused of preaching Christianity to the dancers whereas additionally sharing intercourse fantasies. She additionally publicly mentioned the virginity of one of many girls.
The three girls are looking for an unspecified quantity in damages and have requested a jury trial.
Lizzo doc director, and others, communicate out about mistreatment claims
Within the wake of the lawsuit, Sophia Nahli Allison, who was briefly the director of the 2022 documentary Love, Lizzo, claimed she confronted mistreatment working with the star. She stated she “walked away” two weeks into the job as a result of “I used to be handled with such disrespect by her.” She added, “I witnessed how boastful, self-centered and unkind she is… I felt gaslit and was deeply harm.”
In one other tweet, Allison confirmed assist to the plaintiffs whereas accusing Lizzo of making “an especially poisonous and hostile working atmosphere” that “undermines the work, labor, and authority of different Black and brown womxn within the course of.” She stated the star is a “narcissist bully” who “constructed her model off of lies.”
One other of Lizzo’s former dancers Courtney Hollinquest — who’s not a part of the lawsuit — has since stated she skilled harassment working with Lizzo’s crew and applauded the dancers.
Additionally, Lizzo’s former inventive director Quinn Whitney Wilson praised the dancers for coming ahead. “I have not been aside of that world for round three years, for a purpose,” Wilson wrote on Instagram. “I very a lot applaud the dancers braveness to convey this to gentle. and I grieve elements of my very own expertise.”
Beyonce’s dis?
Hours after the lawsuit was filed, Beyoncé carried out in Boston and seemingly reduce Lizzo’s identify from a listing of Black feminine artists — additionally together with Lauryn Hill, Betty Davis and her sister, Solange — she normally shouts out throughout “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix).” Social media speculated it was a pointed omission.
Nonetheless, Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Knowles, disputed that on social media. “She additionally didn’t say her personal sister’s identify,” she wrote on Instagram. “Y’all ought to actually cease.”
What is the speedy future maintain?
Lizzo’s The Particular Tour concluded July 30 in Japan — simply earlier than this all hit the fan. She has a bit break from performing till her dedication to co-headline the Made in America pageant in Philadelphia, which takes place Sept. 2 and three. As of now, her identify continues to be prominently featured on the lineup.
