Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
It looks like Lizzo has a new legal problem on her hands, as three former dancers have levied some serious allegations against the “Rumors” singer. Specifically, the lawsuit accuses the 35-year-old of everything from fat shaming to sexual harassment and workplace hostility.
Additionally, the lawsuit names her production company — Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. — and dance captain Shirlene Quigley as defendants.
NBC News broke the story on Tuesday (Aug. 1), and the lawsuit was filed that day through the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Attorney Ron Zambrano represents the three former dancers — Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez — and called the matter “demoralizing” considering “everything Lizzo stands for publicly.”
“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
Within the lawsuit, Davis recalled that, after a South by Southwest (SXSW) performance, Lizzo allegedly called the dancer “less committed” to her role than others — which she dubbed a “thinly veiled” jab at her weight.
In another allegation supposedly stemming from an afterparty at an Amsterdam strip club, the singer is accused of “inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.”
Eventually, the lawsuit accuses Lizzo of “pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women.” After the dancer shared her reservations, Lizzo allegedly began leading a chant while “demanding a visibly uncomfortable Ms. Davis to engage with the performer.”
Regarding this situation, the lawsuit slams Lizzo for having “little regard” for her employees’ “bodily autonomy.”
“Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed.”
Aside from the allegation above, Williams accuses Lizzo of firing her after shutting down accusations of drinking on the job. As for Rodriguez, she says the artist intimidated her by “cracking her knuckles” and “balling her fists” during the dancer’s resignation. Rodriguez also says Lizzo flipped her off while calling her a slur during the interaction.
It’s essential to add that dance captain Shirlene Quigley is also accused of “proselytiz[ing] to any and all in her presence regardless of protestations,” prompting allegations of religious harassment.
After others asked her to stop, Quigley allegedly declared, “No one will stop me from talking about the Lord.”
Quigley’s alleged involvement doesn’t end with religious harassment, though. She and Lizzo are also accused of “[taking] turns berating” Davis before firing her “on the spot.”
As for the singer’s production company, the lawsuit accuses employees of making comments “charged with racial and fat-phobic animus.”
Once word broke, the news understandably took many fans by surprise.
Check out what people said about the allegations against Lizzo below.
There are no further updates at this time. Lizzo hasn’t publicly acknowledged the lawsuit via social media.
