Grammy award-winning singer Lizzo faces a long legal battle ahead as three of her former dancers have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her. The lawsuit alleges a severely toxic work environment and includes serious claims such as debauchery, racially biased taunts, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment. The accusations have shocked the world of pop as Lizzo’s public persona of celebrating body image will take a heavy hit.
Exploring the lawsuit and accusations against Lizzo
The dancers’ lawsuit against Lizzo was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. It names Lizzo’s company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, and dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, as co-defendants alongside the pop star herself.
The plaintiffs, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, are former dancers who joined Lizzo’s dance team in 2021. According to the complaint, they had to work in an environment that was overtly sexual, hostile, and emotionally distressing.
The allegations range from weight-shaming and sexually abusive behavior. During a tour in Amsterdam earlier this year, Lizzo reportedly invited the dancers to engage with nude performers in the city’s infamous Red Light District.
The dancers also claim that Lizzo and her production company failed to provide fair compensation while on tour. They were allegedly offered only 25% of their weekly pay during non-performance periods, compared to 50% offered to other performers.
Who are the former dancers suing Lizzo?
The three former dancers who have filed the lawsuit against Lizzo are Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. All three are people of color and joined Lizzo’s dance team in 2021.
According to the lawsuit, Lizzo pressured Arianna Davis into touching the breasts of a performer in a nightclub, which she did out of fear of jeopardizing her position on the team. Moreover, Lizzo also indulged in severe weight-shaming against the plaintiffs.
They allege that Lizzo also made several dancers do excruciating 12-hour auditions after making false accusations that they drank while working. Lizzo’s dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, reportedly pushed religious beliefs against the crew and made sexually abusive comments.
The dancers also claim that the production company Big Grrrl Big Touring treats black women differently from women dancers of other races. The women’s lawyer has expressed that Lizzo’s treatment of the performers goes against everything she stands for publicly.
Social media reactions to Lizzo’s lawsuit
Lizzo is one of those pop stars known more for their empowering messages than their actual music. The female rapper, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, often celebrated body positivity and self-love. However, the lawsuit’s revelations change things permanently.
https://twitter.com/harryxhalle/status/1686459776639860737?s=20
Lizzo’s fans and the music community have taken to social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok to express their shock over the lawsuit from her former dancers. They have bashed the singer’s hypocrisy and called for her to be held accountable for her actions.
On the other hand, Lizzo’s critics have been celebrating the fact that she has done something wrong enough to get ‘canceled.’ Meanwhile, the singer has spent most of her year on tour in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.
You can share questions about the lawsuit against Lizzo by her former dancers. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!