Lizzo Faces Lawsuit Alleging Harassment: What We Know So Far
Three former dancers who worked with Lizzo have filed a lawsuit against her, her production company, and dance captain Shirlene Quigley.
The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, have accused Lizzo of s**ual, religious, and racial harassment, as well as disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.
The lawsuit has sparked support from other former collaborators, with at least six more individuals coming forward with allegations.
Lizzo’s team has submitted sworn statements from 18 employees in her defense.
Here’s what we know about the lawsuit and Lizzo’s response.
The lawsuit alleges that while on tour, Lizzo invited the dancers to a nude-performance club in Amsterdam under the threat of losing their jobs.
It claims that Lizzo led a chant to pressure Davis into touching another performer’s bre-sts, despite Davis expressing her refusal.
The dancers also claim that Lizzo pulled down a member of her security team’s pants and hit him with whips.
Additionally, they say that Lizzo took her dance team to a n^de cabaret bar in Paris without informing them.
The lawsuit further alleges mistreatment from Lizzo’s production company, which was managed by white Europeans.
The dancers claim that they were often accused of being lazy, unprofessional, and having bad attitudes due to their race.
Davis also claims that she was fat-shamed by Lizzo and choreographer Tanisha Scott, who questioned her commitment to the tour based on her weight gain.
Lawyers representing the dancers have received inquiries from at least six other people with similar stories of abuse and harassment.
These allegations involve a s**ually charged environment and failure to pay employees.
Another former employee, Asha Daniels, has filed a separate lawsuit against Lizzo, alleging an unsafe and s**ually charged workplace culture.
In response to the allegations, Lizzo released a statement denying the claims and addressing her high standards and commitment to body positivity.
She filed a formal legal response denying all allegations.
Lizzo’s team has also filed a motion to dismiss the case under a California statute that protects free speech.
While some former employees have supported Lizzo, others have shared their negative experiences.
Documentarian Sophia Nahli Allison claimed to have been treated with disrespect by Lizzo during the filming of a documentary.
Another former dancer, Courtney Hollinquest, expressed support for the lawsuit, and Lizzo’s former creative director, Quinn Wilson, acknowledged mistreatment.
Lizzo’s current employees have expressed their support for her, praising her positive impact on their careers and the diverse representation she promotes.
However, the plaintiffs’ attorney maintains that these statements do not change the allegations in the lawsuit, and more potential plaintiffs continue to come forward.
Lizzo’s legal team has submitted sworn statements from 18 employees contradicting the claims made in the lawsuit.
These statements challenge accusations of fat-shaming and religious imposition.
The plaintiffs’ legal team argues that these statements should not be considered by the judge, as they are either defendants or individuals on Lizzo’s payroll.
They maintain that their clients have independent
