(LOS ANGELES) – Three former dancers have sued Lizzo, accusing her of sexual harassment and claiming that the singer and her production business created a toxic work environment.
The civil case filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, She encouraged the dancers to engage with naked performers at an Amsterdam club and ridiculed one of them for her weight gain before terminating her.
Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez allege sexual, religious, and racial harassment, handicap discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and names Melissa Viviane Jefferson, better known as Lizzo, her production business Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the performer’s dance squad.
Lizzo’s representatives did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the case.
According to the court statement, The singer and her crew visited a sexually themed show at a bar in Amsterdam’s famed Red Light District after playing a concert, where “Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers.” According to the lawsuit, Lizzo led a chant throughout the concert pressing Davis to touch the breasts of one of the club’s naked woman performers.
Lizzo’s representatives did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the case.
“Finally, the chorus became overwhelming, and a mortified Ms. Davis acquiesced in an attempt to stop the chants,” according to the complaint. “Plaintiffs were astounded by Lizzo’s disregard for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, particularly in the presence of a large number of people whom she employed.”
The singer, who regularly promotes body positivity, is also accused of criticizing Davis for her weight gain after accusing her of being uncommitted to her role. According to the complaint, Davis was fired in May for filming a meeting during which she distributed notes to dancers regarding their performances.
Quigley, who acted as a judge on the singer’s reality show “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” is accused of imposing her Christian ideas on dancers in the lawsuit. According to the court petition, Quigley called Davis a “non-believer” and told coworkers, “No job and no one will stop me from talking about the Lord.”
Lizzo won the Grammy for Record of the Year earlier this year for her single “About Damn Time.” A world tour promoting her fourth studio album, 2022’s “Special,” concluded last month.
SOURCE – (AP)
