On Aug. 1, three of Lizzo’s former dancers filed a lawsuit towards the 35-year-old musician. Within the swimsuit, obtained by NBC Information, plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez detailed the hostile work atmosphere they allegedly endured throughout their time on tour, together with weight shaming, verbal altercations, and compelled participation in a intercourse present. Additionally they claimed that the captain of Lizzo’s dance staff, Shirlene Quigley, regularly overshared private particulars about her intercourse life and spiritual beliefs throughout rehearsals, figuring out one of many plaintiffs as a “non-believer” and overtly discussing the virginity of one other in interviews and on social media.

Lizzo addressed their allegations in an Instagram assertion on Aug. 3. She referred to as the scenario “intestine
wrenchingly tough and overwhelmingly disappointing.” She wrote, “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Normally I select not to reply to false allegations however these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

The singer continued, “These sensationalized tales are coming from former workers who’ve already publicly admitted that they have been advised their habits on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.” Lizzo added that “ardour” brings “onerous work and excessive requirements,” however that she didn’t intend to make anybody really feel uncomfortable.

“I’m not right here to be checked out as a sufferer, however I additionally know that I’m not the villain that individuals and the media have portrayed me to be these previous few days,” she wrote. “I’m very open with my sexuality and expressing myself however I can not settle for or permit folks to make use of that openness to make me out to be one thing I’m not. There may be nothing I take extra severely than the respect we deserve as ladies on the planet.” She additionally stated she was would “by no means” criticize or terminate an worker due to their weight. Learn her full assertion under.

Within the lawsuit, Davis particularly accused Lizzo of drawing consideration to her weight achieve after noticing it on the SXSW movie pageant, reportedly observing that she appeared “much less dedicated” as a dancer. “The beautiful nature of how Lizzo and her administration staff handled their performers appears to go towards all the things Lizzo stands for publicly, whereas privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in methods that aren’t solely unlawful however completely demoralizing,” the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, stated in a press launch.

On the European leg of the tour, Lizzo reportedly invited her dancers to a strip membership in Amsterdam referred to as Bananenbar, and though not obligatory, the plaintiffs alleged that attending these extracurricular occasions meant higher remedy and general job safety. On the membership on Feb. 23, Lizzo allegedly “started inviting forged members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and consuming bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas,” per the swimsuit. “Lizzo then turned her consideration to Ms. Davis and commenced pressuring Ms. Davis to the touch the breasts of one of many nude ladies.”

After Davis initially refused, Lizzo allegedly started a chant, rising louder and louder and “demanding a visibly uncomfortable Ms. Davis to interact with the performer.” The swimsuit famous, “Plaintiffs have been aghast with how little regard Lizzo confirmed for the bodily autonomy of her workers and people round her, particularly within the presence of many individuals whom she employed.”

The lawsuit additionally made notice of alleged discrepancies in remedy based mostly on race, saying Lizzo and her manufacturing firm, Massive Grrrl Massive Touring, Inc. (BGBT), handled dancers of colour otherwise than others. “BGBT’s administration staff consisted fully of white Europeans who usually accused the Black members of the dance staff of being lazy, unprofessional, and having unhealthy attitudes,” the swimsuit alleged. “Solely the dance forged — comprised of full-figured ladies of colour — have been ever spoken to on this method, giving Plaintiffs the impression that these feedback have been charged with racial and fat-phobic animus.”

Williams was fired in late April as a result of “funds cuts.” On Could 3, Davis was additionally fired after recording a gathering between the dancers and Lizzo. Annoyed with how Williams and Davis have been handled, Rodriguez resigned and stated this triggered a detrimental response from Lizzo.

“Lizzo aggressively approached Ms. Rodriquez, cracking her knuckles, balling her fists, and exclaiming, ‘You are fortunate. You are so f*cking fortunate!’ Ms. Rodriguez feared that Lizzo supposed to hit her and would have achieved so if one of many different dancers had not intervened,” the swimsuit stated. “Neither safety nor administration did something to de-escalate the scenario. As Lizzo left the room, she raised each her center fingers and yelled, ‘Bye, b*tch!'” Representatives for Lizzo didn’t reply to POPSUGAR’s request for remark.