In a shocking turn of events, Lizzo, known for her advocacy of inclusivity and social justice, has been hit with yet another lawsuit.
A former employee, fashion designer Asha Daniels, has come forward, accusing the singer and her team of fostering an environment rife with bullying, harassment, and racial discrimination.
Daniels, 35, spoke to NBC News before filing her lawsuit against Lizzo and other members of the team.
She described her experience as being akin to living in a madhouse, expressing her disbelief at the situation.
While Lizzo was on stage promoting self-love, empathy, and strength, Daniels claimed that behind the scenes, dancers, background vocalists, and the local team in every city were subjected to regular harassment and bullying.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Daniels' lawyers on Thursday, specifically named wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura.
According to the suit, Nomura allegedly engaged in stereotypical impressions of Black women, using derogatory terms such as “fat,” “useless,” and “dumb” to refer to the performers.
Furthermore, she purportedly forced them to change in front of a predominantly white, male stage crew who would lewdly gawk at them.
Daniels asserts that she was terminated after she raised complaints about Nomura's behavior.
Ron Zambrano, Daniels' attorney, emphasized Lizzo's role as the boss, holding her responsible for the alleged misconduct.
He stated, “Lizzo is the boss, so the buck stops with her.”
In response to the lawsuit, Lizzo's spokesperson released a statement, accusing Zambrano of attempting to tarnish the singer's reputation on the same day she was set to receive the Black Music Action Coalition's Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award.
The award recognizes Lizzo's philanthropic work and commitment to social justice.
The spokesperson, Stefan Friedman, dismissed the lawsuit as a “bogus, absurd publicity-stunt” and highlighted the fact that Daniels had never actually met or spoken with Lizzo.
The statement concluded by stating that they would not pay the lawsuit any further attention.
The Black Music Action Coalition, which previously commended Lizzo for her advocacy and promotion of diversity
