Explaining Lizzo’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
The news broke this week that Lizzo being sued by three of her former dancers for cultivating a hostile work environment, rocking the singer’s huge fanbase.
The lawsuit — which was filed on Tuesday, August 1 — is pretty major, detailing troubling claims of sexual, religious, and racial harassment; disability discrimination, and even false imprisonment.
Let’s unpack exactly what the allegations are.
— Content Warning: This article discusses sexual harassment and workplace bullying. —
[UPDATE Friday August 4, 12:50 pm: Lizzo has made a public statement regarding the allegations. We have updated this article to reflect that.]
Lizzo’s Being Accused Of Sexual Degradation And Weight-Shaming
The lawsuit — which was first reported by NBC News and filed in the LA Superior Court — was filed by three of Lizzo’s former back-up dancers: Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. They’re also suing Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, and Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. The dancers claim that Lizzo created a toxic workplace that included sexually degrading conduct and body-shaming.
In one alleged incident, the former dancers claim that Lizzo — known for being a body “normative” advocate — suggested that her weight gain meant that she was “less committed” to her role. This incident apparently happened during her performance at South By Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Texas.
Lizzo has also been accused of pressuring a dancer to touch a nude performer in an Amsterdam strip club. Apparently, while Lizzo’s after-parties weren’t mandatory, attending meant that you’d got in her good books. It’s alleged that Lizzo invited “cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.” Davis specifically claims that Lizzo also pressured her to “touch the breasts of one of the nude women”, and led a chant goading her further after she declined to do so.
The lawsuit also details an incident where Lizzo claimed the back-up dancers drank prior to performing. Apparently, Lizzo then told her dancers to audition again, which sparked an “excruciating” 12-hour rehearsal, during which Davis was so scared of losing her job she avoided the bathroom and ended up soiling herself. Crystal Williams was reportedly fired five days later after insisting the dancers didn’t drink, and was told she was let go due to budget cuts.
False Imprisonment And Religious Harassment
Davis claims that she once video recorded a meeting where Lizzo declared she had “eyes and ears everywhere.” Apparently, the singer then held an emergency meeting where she had security take away the dancers’ phones and force them to out the culprit. Davis reportedly confessed to the recording, stating that she had deleted it — but as Lizzo didn’t believe her, she “fired Ms. Davis on the spot.” As Davis says she was forced into a room so that they could search her phone, Lizzo’s production company is also up against a false imprisonment lawsuit.
In the same meeting, Noelle Rodriguez says that she expressed feeling disrespected and wanting to resign. In response, Lizzo allegedly balled her fists, insisting that Rodriguez was “lucky”. Lizzo then allegedly yelled a slur as Rodriguez left the room and raised her middle fingers.
That’s not all! The lawsuit also accuses Lizzo’s dance team captain Shirlene Quigley of religious harassment. It’s claimed Shirlene tried to proselytise the dancers, pushing her Christian beliefs onto them and making fun of them for having pre-marital sex. She allegedly also engaged in unprofessional and lewd behaviour that included simulating oral sex, and publicly talking about a dancer’s supposed virginity.
Has Lizzo Responded To The Allegations?
It took a few days for Lizzo to responded to the allegations but overnight she shared a lengthy statement via Instagram saying “I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know I’m not the villain”.
In the statement, Lizzo also called the allegations made against her as “unbelievable” and “outrageous.” She then went on to say that the former dancers had “already publicly admitted that they were told their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Touching on some of the allegations made against her, Lizzo said that she “would absolutely never criticise or terminate an employee because of their weight.” She ended the statement saying “I’m hurt but will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this.”
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Before Lizzo made a public statement, her former creative director Quinn Wilson posted an Instagram story in support of the dancers. “I have not been part of that world for around three years, for a reason,” Quinn wrote, “I very much applaud the dancers courage to bring this to light. And I grieve part of my own experience”.
[UPDATE Thursday August 3, 12:00pm: Lizzo’s dance captain Shirlene Quigley has taken to Instagram following the lawsuit allegations saying “I just wanted to get on here really quick and say God is so, so good!” You can watch the video here.]
Lizzo’s Brand Is Crumbling Around Her
Aside from the graphic claims made against Lizzo by the former dancers, there is a lot of shock of how an artist whose public brand is one of positivity, self-love, and kindness can allegedly be the culprit of the opposite behaviour.
Lizzo was just recently touring Australia after she headlined Splendour In The Grass. During one of the Sydney shows of her tour, Lizzo told a fan that she was special and “words that we say have a long-lasting effect on people”, which in hindsight is pretty ironic.
It’s pretty confronting to deal with loving and adoring a celebrity who — on the surface — seemed to be a genuine force for good, especially in an industry plagued with toxicity and body shaming. Should these claims be found to be true, it’s safe to say that fans of the celebrated popstar will be devastated.
If this article has raised concerns for you, help is always available. If in an emergency, please call 000. Alternatively, you can call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online. Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on X.
Image credit: Sipa USA