Lizzo has submitted her first legal reply to the lawsuit filed by three former dancers against her in August.
Lizzo and her Big Grrrl Big Touring company are seeking dismissal of the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
If the court denies the dismissal, they are requesting a jury trial.
The original complaint, filed on August 1 in Los Angeles court, alleged that Lizzo and her team subjected the dancers to s**ual harassment and a hostile work environment.
The dancers accused Lizzo of pressuring them to attend a s** show in Amsterdam, dance team captain Shirlene Quigley of engaging in uncomfortable behavior, and Lizzo of making disparaging comments about a dancer’s weight gain.
They also claimed that Black dancers were unfairly targeted and that Lizzo denied them bathroom breaks during auditions.
In response, Lizzo’s lawyers filed a document with over 30 defenses.
These include arguing that the plaintiffs approved of the defendants’ actions, that their conduct was undertaken in good faith for legitimate business purposes, and that the plaintiffs have acted unethically and should be denied relief.
Furthermore, Lizzo’s legal team argues that the case should be subject to arbitration under the terms of the contract between the plaintiffs and Big Grrrl Big Touring.
They also claim that the claims are preempted by California’s Workers’ Compensation Act and should be decided by the workers’ compensation appeals board instead of the court.
Lizzo’s spokesperson, Stefan Friedman, stated that this legal response is the first step in demonstrating that Lizzo and her team have always promoted body positivity and maintained a safe workplace.
He called any contrary claims ridiculous and expressed confidence in proving their innocence in court.
The dancers’ attorney, Neama Rahmani, responded to the filing by stating that Lizzo’s objections are unrelated to the case.
However, he highlighted that Lizzo has agreed to a jury trial, and they look forward to presenting their case and letting the truth be decided by a panel of peers.
Lizzo had previously denied the allegations in a social media statement and called them unbelievable.
The dancers appeared on CNN to reiterate their claims, expressing disappointment in Lizzo’s response.
In addition to this lawsuit, Lizzo is facing another legal action brought by clothing designer Asha Daniels, who alleges s**ual and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and illegal retaliatory termination while working on Lizzo’s Special tour.
Despite these challenges, Lizzo remains committed to being herself and using her platform to amplify marginalized voices.
She expressed gratitude for the support she has received and vowed to continue creating safe spaces for Black fat women.
As the legal process unfolds, Lizzo and her team will strive to prove their commitment to body positivity, a supportive workplace, and protecting individuals from harassment.
They firmly believe that the allegations against them are baseless and look forward to vindicating themselves in court.
