Lizzo asserted on Thursday that she is “not the villain” as three of her previous backup dancers have wrongly claimed in a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Lizzo is accused of pressuring dancers to interact with naked performers at an Amsterdam nightclub and humiliating one of them for gaining weight before terminating her, according to a civil case filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
In a message published on X, the social networking site that replaced Twitter, Lizzo wrote, “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 outspoken about my sexuality and how I express myself, but I cannot accept it or allow people to misrepresent me because of that openness.”
Numerous allegations are made by the plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, including assault, false detention, racial, religious, and handicap discrimination. They claim that the Grammy winner’s production firm and her have fostered an unfriendly work atmosphere.
Lizzo, also known as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, her production business Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, the leader of the performer’s dance crew, are named in the lawsuit, which demands unexplained damages.
“The past few days have been tremendously painful and difficult to bear. They have questioned my work ethic, integrity, and respectability. There have been complaints about my persona, Lizzo claimed. “Normally I don’t respond to false accusations, but these are too outrageous and unbelievable to ignore,” the author said.
She claimed that the “sensationalized stories” were being spread by former workers “who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Lizzo and her group allegedly went to a club in the notorious Red Light District of Amsterdam after performing a concert there, where “Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers” and “led a chant pressuring Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude performers.”
In an effort to stop the shouts, Ms. Davis eventually gave in after the chorus grew too loud, according to the lawsuit. “Plaintiffs were appalled by Lizzo’s lack of regard for the bodily autonomy of her coworkers and those in her immediate vicinity, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed,” the lawsuit reads.
Lizzo, who frequently promotes body positivity, is accused of criticizing Davis for gaining weight after declaring that the dancer wasn’t dedicated to her part. According to the complaint, Davis was let go in May after filming a meeting in which Lizzo distributed notes to dancers on their performances.
Lizzo remarked, “I sometimes have to make difficult choices, but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uneasy or like they aren’t valued as a key member of the team.” “I’m hurt, but I won’t let this overshadow the good work I’ve done in the world.”
In the case, Quigley, a judge on Lizzo’s reality series “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” is charged of forcing her Christian ideas on dancers. According to a court document, Quigley called Davis a “non-believer” and threatened his coworkers, saying, “No job and no one will stop me from talking about the Lord.”
Lizzo won the Grammy for record of the year earlier this year for her popular song “About Damn Time.” Her fourth studio album, “Special,” from 2022, was supported by a world tour that was completed last month.
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