Dancers Accuse Lizzo of Harassment and Hostile Work Setting in Lawsuit

Three of Lizzo’s former dancers filed a lawsuit towards her on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, accusing the Grammy-winning singer and the captain of her dance workforce making a hostile work surroundings whereas performing live shows on her Particular Tour this 12 months.

The lawsuit, a duplicate of which was supplied to The New York Occasions by the plaintiffs’ legislation agency, mentioned the dancers had been “uncovered to an overtly sexual environment that permeated their office,” which included “outings the place nudity and sexuality had been a focus,” it mentioned. The swimsuit was first reported by NBC.

The defendants embody Lizzo, utilizing her full title Melissa Jefferson as an alternative of her stage title; her manufacturing firm, Huge Grrrl Huge Touring Inc.; and Shirlene Quigley, the tour’s dance captain. It doesn’t specify whether or not the singer was conscious of the plaintiffs’ allegations linked to Ms. Quigley.

The swimsuit alleges that Lizzo and Ms. Quigley had been concerned in a number of episodes that legal professionals for the three dancers mentioned amounted to sexual and non secular harassment and weight shaming, amongst different allegations.

The swimsuit alleges that Ms. Quigley “made it her mission to evangelise” Christianity to the dancers, and fixated on virginity, whereas Lizzo sexually harassed them.

On one event whereas at a nightclub in Amsterdam, the lawsuit says, Lizzo started inviting workers to the touch nude performers and deal with dildos and bananas used of their performances.

Out of concern of retaliation, a dancer finally “acquiesced” to touching the breast of a nude feminine performer regardless of repeatedly expressing little interest in doing so, the swimsuit says.

Representatives for Lizzo and her manufacturing firm didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Tuesday.

Two of the plaintiffs, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams, started performing with Lizzo after competing on her actuality tv present on Amazon Prime, “Watch Out for the Huge Grrrls,” in 2021. The present was a possibility to provide plus-size dancers illustration, Lizzo mentioned on the time. Ms. Davis and Ms. Williams had been fired within the spring of 2023, the lawsuit says.

Individually, a 3rd plaintiff, Noelle Rodriguez, was employed in Could 2021 to carry out in Lizzo’s “Rumors” music video and remained on as a part of her dance workforce. In keeping with the lawsuit, Ms. Rodriguez resigned shortly after Ms. Davis and Ms. Williams had been fired.

A number of the allegations appeared to take intention at Lizzo’s popularity for championing physique positivity and inclusivity.

“The gorgeous nature of how Lizzo and her administration workforce handled their performers appears to go towards every little thing Lizzo stands for publicly,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Ron Zambrano, mentioned in a press release on Monday. Privately, he mentioned, Lizzo “weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in methods that aren’t solely unlawful however completely demoralizing.”

A few of Lizzo’s statements to the dancers gave Ms. Davis, who was identified with a binge consuming dysfunction, the impression that she needed to “clarify her weight acquire and disclose intimate private particulars about her life to be able to maintain her job,” the swimsuit says.

Since her breakout hit “Fact Hurts” dominated charts in 2019, Lizzo has popularized “feel-good music” and self-love and has celebrated range in all types by churning out empowerment anthems, introducing a size-inclusive shapewear line and racking up thousands and thousands of views on social media.

She received this 12 months’s Grammy for file of the 12 months for “About Rattling Time.”

Diana Reddy, an assistant professor on the College of Legislation on the College of California, Berkeley, mentioned that allegations that fall exterior legally protected classes may undermine Lizzo’s body-positive message and “may definitely encourage a settlement.”

Proving a hostile work surroundings within the unconventional leisure business is tough, she mentioned, so the plaintiffs’ legal professionals might be hoping for a settlement. “Employment discrimination plaintiffs don’t fare notably effectively in court docket,” Ms. Reddy mentioned.

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