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A spokesman for singer Lizzo is reportedly addressing a new lawsuit filed against the singer. According to NBC News, attorneys representing fashion designer Asha Daniels filed the new suit on Thursday.
As The Shade Room previously reported, the singer was previously hit with a lawsuit from three of her former backup dancers in August. The women accused Lizzo of “demoralizing” them through alleged actions of sexual harassment and weight-shaming.
Since then, Lizzo has maintained that the allegations against her are false.
According to NBC News, the outlet spoke with Daniels on Wednesday. At the time, the fashion designer described her alleged experience working with the singer.
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I felt like I was living in a madhouse,” Daniels told the outlet. “It was totally shocking… I was listening to this Black woman on this huge stage have this message of self-love and caring for others and being empathetic and being strong and standing up for others. And I was witnessing myself, the dancers and the background vocalists and my local team in every city be harassed and bullied regularly.”
The outlet reports that Daniels’ lawyers filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses Lizzo’s wardrobe manager, Amanda Nomura, of performing “stereotypical impressions” of Black women and calling dancers “fat,” “useless,” and “dumb.”
Furthermore, Daniels alleges Nomura would “force” the dancers to change their attire in front of a “mostly white, male stage crew.” The crew would allegedly “lewdly gawk” at the dancers.
According to NBC News, Daniels was fired from working with Lizzo after she allegedly complained about Nomura.
One of the fashion designer’s attorneys, Ron Zambrano, also shared a statement with the outlet. Zambrano seemed to explain why the lawsuit cited Lizzo as the defendant.
“Lizzo is the boss, so the buck stops with her,” Zambrano explained.
According to NBC News, Daniels’ suit alleges sexual harassment, racial discrimination, “failure to prevent a hostile work environment,” and other accusations. The outlet reports that Nomura, Lizzo, Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and Lizzo’s touring manager, Carlina Gugliotta, have been named defendants in the suit.
According to TMZ, Daniels seeks damages for “unpaid wages, loss of earnings,” and more.
After news of the lawsuit’s filing became public Thursday, Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for the singer, directly responded to the allegations, sharing an exclusive statement with TMZ. We must note that Friedman’s response arrives ahead of Lizzo being honored Thursday evening at the Black Music Action Coalition.
In his response, Friedman seemingly alleged that Zambrano “recruited” Daniels to “file a bogus” lawsuit. As The Shade Room previously reported, Zambrano also represents the three plaintiffs behind the initial harassment lawsuit against the singer.
Additionally, Friedman alleges that Daniels has “never actually met or even spoke with Lizzo.”
“As Lizzo receives a Humanitarian Award tonight from the Black Music Action Coalition for the incredible charitable work she has done to lift up all people, an ambulance-chasing lawyer tries to sully this honor by recruiting someone to file a bogus, absurd publicity-stunt lawsuit who, wait for it, never actually met or even spoke with Lizzo,” Friedman explained to TMZ. “We will pay this as much attention as it deserves. None.”
As The Shade Room previously reported, three former backup dancers filed a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against the singer in August. Additionally, the suit listed Lizzo’s production company and dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, as defendants.
The suit alleged that Lizzo “demoralized” her dancers and even forced them to take part in sexual acts while at an Amsterdam strip club. According to NBC News, Daniels was not present during this instance. However, the fashion designer informed the outlet that she “heard managers discussing hiring sex workers for lewd sex acts.”
Additionally, Daniels alleged she heard discussions also pertaining to “attending sex shows and buying hard drugs.”
After the initial allegations surfaced against the singer, social media users shared their astonished reactions.
Lizzo has since denied the initial allegations against her, as reported by The Shade Room.
Meanwhile, her initial accusers allege that the singer is “essentially gaslighting” them, as per The Shade Room.
