Lizzo Sued By Former Employees

Lizzo, a popular singer-songwriter, is denying claims made by three of her former backup dancers, who have filed a lawsuit against the singer for creating a hostile work environment, accusing her of sexual and racial harassment.

She has released a statement on Instagram this morning denying the claims. In the statement, she writes. “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday morning in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accuses the singer and her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. and dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley. The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez alleged they were pressured by Lizzo into touching nude performers at a club in Amsterdam and experienced weight shaming, PEOPLE reports.

In 2021, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams became dancers for Lizzo after participating in her reality television show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, which aired on Amazon Prime. However, in the spring of 2023, they were terminated from their positions. In May 2021, Noelle Rodriguez was recruited to become part of Lizzo’s dance team for her “Rumors” music video, but shortly resigned thereafter, following the termination of Davis and Williams according to the lawsuit. the New York Times reports.

In the lawsuit, Davis, who had been diagnosed with a binge eating disorder, alleged Lizzo made certain remarks to the dancers that made her feel compelled to “justify her weight gain and reveal intimate personal information about her life in order to remain in the position.

Lizzo continued to address these claims in Thursday’s statement. “As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”

“I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not,” she said on social media.