Lizzo is the subject of a damaging and scathing lawsuit filed by her own former dancers. Three plaintiffs, Ariana Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, claimed that they were sexually, racially, and spiritually abused by Lizzo and her dance captain, on top of being weight-shamed.
Lizzo, formally known as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has been an advocate for body positivity for as long as everyone can remember – and fans are heartbroken knowing about the alleged accusations.
Lizzo Sued in Hostile Environment, Abuse Lawsuit
According to a lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone, Lizzo and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley, were named in a complaint filed before the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The plaintiffs alleged that the abuses and hostile environment took place from 2021 through 2023 while they were on the "Special" Tour.
Per the complaint, Quigley was claimed to be spiritually abusive when she was trying to convert the plaintiffs to their religion. Her acts were called "unceasing" by the plaintiffs, who were also allegedly chastised for engaging in premarital sex.
The suit claimed that Quigley "made comments deriding people who engaged in pre-marital sex, knowing that some members of the dance cast did not share her views. Ms. QUIGLEY also had a party trick in which she would simulate oral sex on a banana in front of the rest of the dance cast. These instances were always unprompted and made Plaintiffs uncomfortable."
Apart from being spiritually abusive, Lizzo and Quigley were also sexually abusive. Quigley, specifically, was cited to have made sexually inappropriate jokes and behavior, to the point where she was discussing masturbation, sexual fantasies, and even discussing one of the dancer's virginity on the Emmy-winning show "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls," without their consent. Two of the plaintiffs also alleged that when they stopped in Amsterdam, the group, including Lizzo pressured them to touch one of the stripper's breasts when they were forced to go to a strip club.
As for the abusive and hostile work environment, the suit also claimed that when the plaintiffs were asking for a break from work, they were scolded by a person from the management for alleged "unacceptable and disrespectful behavior," scaring them that it was grounds for termination. The plaintiffs believe that the termination scare was charged with "racial and fat-phobic animus."
Did Lizzo Fatshamed Her Own Dancers?
According to one of the plaintiffs, Davis, she claimed that Lizzo brought up her weight gain at one point and was eventually fired after being found out that she recorded a meeting where she was being scolded for being absent due to a health concern. Lizzo allegedly asked security to confiscate the dancers' phones after getting a whiff of someone recording.
"Lizzo became furious, hurling expletives at the group and stated that she was going to go around the room, person-by-person until someone told Lizzo who made the recording," the lawsuit alleged.
In addition, the suit alleged that Davis' weight gain was put into question when the Grammy-winning singer called the attention after noticing it during the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival. Davis said that it gave her the impression that she needed to explain her weight gain to the team to keep her job.
"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," the plaintiff's lawyer Ron Zambrano shared to Variety.
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