Lizzo is pushing back against the lawsuit filed by her former dancers and has requested that the court dismiss it.
In a recent motion, Lizzo’s team described the allegations of fat-shaming and harassment as a baseless attempt for a quick payout.
According to the motion, Lizzo’s team accused the ex-dancers of engaging in gross misconduct during their time working with the singer.
They allegedly missed flights, arrived late and intoxicated to rehearsals and performances, had consensual relationships with male crew members, showed a decline in their dancing abilities and professionalism, and conspired to record and distribute an unauthorized creative meeting with Lizzo and the dance cast.
The motion seeks to have the lawsuit dismissed under the anti-SLAPP statute, which aims to protect free speech by dismissing meritless lawsuits that threaten it.
The three plaintiffs, Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez, filed the lawsuit against Lizzo in August, alleging s**ual harassment and a hostile work environment spanning from 2021 to 2023.
In response to Lizzo’s motion, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Neama Rahmani, criticized the singer and her team, stating that filming a reality TV show does not excuse illegal behavior.
Rahmani argued that Lizzo and her team engaged in s**ual harassment, racial discrimination, religious discrimination, and disability discrimination, which cannot be protected under the guise of free speech.
Rahmani also emphasized that the defense’s declarations are biased, as they come from individuals accused of wrongdoing or those employed by Lizzo.
He believes that their statements should not be considered by the judge and instead should be decided upon by a jury.
Rahmani further mentioned that they have additional witnesses supporting the plaintiffs’ claims and have received inquiries from other former Lizzo employees interested in joining the lawsuit.
Lizzo’s motion includes 18 written declarations from her staff, including former dancers, band members, and tour managers, who support the singer’s defense.
These declarations counter allegations of fat-shaming and pressuring the dancers to attend s**ually explicit shows.
They claim that concerns about one dancer’s weight were centered around her performance quality and energy levels, not her appearance.
Lizzo allegedly offered her support and tools to improve her health.
Other dancers also stated that they never witnessed any weight or body shaming and felt inspired by Lizzo to celebrate their bodies.
Lizzo’s attorney, Martin D. Singer, argued that the singer provided the dancers with valuable opportunities through the Big Grrls reality show and The Special Tour.
He accused the plaintiffs of wasting their chance and filing the lawsuit out of spite, seeking attention, sympathy, and financial gain without putting in much effort.
Some of the declarations also defended Shirlene Quigley, the dance captain, against accusations of imposing her religion on other dancers.
In late September, Lizzo previously requested the court to dismiss the s**ual harassment lawsuit and denied all allegations made by the three former dancers.
However, if necessary, Lizzo is willing to proceed to trial by jury to fight the lawsuit.
Lizzo’s legal team additionally claimed that the three dancers suing her are not entitled to any damages due to their own failure to fulfill their contractual obligations, citing the legal concept of “unclean hands.”
