Lizzo is currently facing a lawsuit filed by three of her former tour dancers. They have accused the singer of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
Lawsuits Claims
Dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, filed the complaint July 18 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Lizzo, her Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. and her tour’s dance captain are named defendants, though, according to USA Today, not all the allegations pertain to all of them.
One vivid allegation in the documents details an incident in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The lawsuit claims that Lizzo and her dancers visited a club that allows patrons to interact with nude performers. It’s alleged that Lizzo pressured Davis to interact with one of the performers.
“Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers,” the lawsuit claims. “Lizzo then turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis.”
The document continued to explain that cast members continued to pressure Davis to the point where she unwillingly engaged with a performer. Afterward, Lizzo allegedly pressed a member of her security staff to get on stage and began yelling, “take it off,” according to the suit.
Additionally, the singer allegedly subjected the group to an “excruciating” audition after leveling false accusations that they were drinking on the job. According to the court documents, Lizzo also called attention to one dancer’s weight gain and later berated, then fired, that dancer after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition that causes disorientation.
Other Members of Lizzo’s Former Staff Speak Out
Other former members of Lizzo’s staff have shared their support of the lawsuit. Former dancer, Courtney Hollinquest, shared on her Instagram story that although she may not have a hand in the suit, she experienced similar treatment during her time working with the star. She commended Davis, Williams and Rodriguez for their courage. Lizzo’s former creative director, Quinn Wilson, chimed in with her own words with a repost of Hollinquest’s story.
“I havent been apart of that world for around three years, for a reason. I very much applaude the dancers courage to bring this to light,” Wilson wrote on her own Instagram story. “And I grieve parts of my own experience. Id appreciate space to understand my feelings.”
Plantiffs’ Attorney Responds
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, shared a few words about the lawsuit in a statement.
“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing,” he said.
There was a myriad of other detailed instances throughout the documents regarding body shaming, harassment and intimidation attempts. The suit does not specify a dollar amount for damages that cover emotional distress including unpaid wages, loss of earnings and attorney’s fees.
Lizzo has not responded to the suits allegations.