LOS ANGELES - A lawsuit filed on Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court has brought to light allegations of sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment against the popular singer and body positivity advocate, Lizzo. The suit was filed by three of her former dancers, who also claim that the singer pressured one of them into touching a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam.
The plaintiffs, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, have accused Lizzo of drawing attention to Davis's weight gain and subsequently firing her after she recorded a meeting due to a health condition. The suit also alleges that Lizzo and her choreographer accused Davis of being "less committed" to her role, a comment that the plaintiffs interpret as a veiled concern about Davis's weight.
The lawsuit also includes accusations against Shirlene Quigley, the captain of Lizzo's dance team. Quigley is accused of proselytizing to other performers, deriding those who had premarital sex, and publicly discussing the virginity of one of the plaintiffs. The suit does not clarify whether Lizzo was aware of these allegations.
The lawsuit also includes claims of religious and racial harassment, false imprisonment, interference with prospective economic advantage, among other allegations. The racial harassment claim is linked to comments allegedly made by touring company employees that were "charged with racial and fat-phobic animus."
The lawsuit details an incident at an Amsterdam strip club where Lizzo allegedly pressured Davis to touch a nude performer. The suit alleges that Lizzo led a chant goading Davis to do so, and when Davis eventually acquiesced, the group burst into laughter.
The plaintiffs' lawyer, Ron Zambrano, stated, "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."
Representatives for Lizzo have not yet responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit does not specify a dollar amount for damages, but it does cover emotional distress, unpaid wages, loss of earnings, and attorney's fees.