Three former dancers file a lawsuit against Lizzo, accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit includes allegations of weight-shaming, pressure to engage in explicit activities, and racial and religious harassment.
In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, three former dancers of Lizzo have come forward, accusing the singer of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment. The plaintiffs claim that Lizzo pressured one of them to engage in inappropriate behavior with a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam. Additionally, the dancers faced a distressing audition following false allegations of drinking on the job.
Despite Lizzo’s public persona, known for promoting body positivity and self-celebration, the suit alleges that she called attention to one dancer’s weight gain and eventually fired her after recording a meeting due to a health condition.
The legal action, presented in the Los Angeles Superior Court and disclosed by the plaintiffs’ law firm to NBC News, also involves accusations against Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley. She is accused of proselytizing to other performers, making derogatory remarks about those engaging in premarital sex, sharing explicit sexual fantasies, and publicly discussing the virginity of one of the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit does not explicitly state whether Lizzo was aware of the allegations involving Quigley, but the plaintiffs’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, asserts that they believed the singer was aware of their complaints.
The lawsuit targets Lizzo, her production company, and Quigley as defendants, encompassing claims of hostile work environment, sexual harassment, religious and racial harassment, false imprisonment, interference with prospective economic advantage, and other charges. Not all accusations were directed at each defendant.
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Zambrano condemns the alleged behavior, stating, “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 lawsuit recounts an incident where Lizzo apparently pointed out a dancer’s weight after a performance at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival. Subsequently, Lizzo and her choreographer questioned the dancer’s dedication to her role, with the suit suggesting that it was a thinly veiled reference to her weight.
As of now, representatives for Lizzo have not responded to requests for comments, and Quigley has not issued a statement either. Attempts to contact Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., have been unsuccessful.
The lawsuit brings to light other troubling incidents, such as a trip to an Amsterdam strip club called Bananenbar, where Lizzo allegedly encouraged dancers to participate in explicit activities with nude performers. One dancer, Arianna Davis, was pressured to touch a nude woman’s breasts, causing discomfort among the group. The suit also alleges that Lizzo concealed the nature of a performance in a nude cabaret bar in Paris, leaving the dancers without the option to decline participation.
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Furthermore, the plaintiffs claim racial harassment within the touring company, citing disparaging comments targeted specifically at the full-figured women of color in the dance cast.
The suit also includes religious harassment allegations against Quigley, who purportedly imposed her Christian beliefs on others and disclosed private information about one dancer’s virginity.
Two of the dancers were fired in April and May, with the suit detailing instances of Lizzo allegedly berating and mocking them before their termination. The suit further claims that Lizzo’s tour manager fired one of the dancers in a hotel lobby, attributing the termination to budget cuts.
During an emergency meeting, Lizzo allegedly pressured dancers to reveal who had recorded a prior meeting. When one dancer, Davis, acknowledged recording it for personal reasons, Lizzo purportedly fired her on the spot. Another dancer, Rodriguez, expressed feeling disrespected and resigned, prompting a negative response from Lizzo.
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The lawsuit also accuses Lizzo’s production company of false imprisonment due to an incident where a security staff member allegedly forced Davis to remain in a room to search her phone for the video.
The plaintiffs seek damages for emotional distress, including unpaid wages, loss of earnings, and attorney fees. Meanwhile, Lizzo continues to inspire fans, with a recent video showing her uplifting a young woman at a concert in Australia, promoting positive words and their lasting effects on people.