Key Points
- Lizzo has strongly denied allegations made in a lawsuit by former employees she created a hostile work environment.
- The lawsuit Lizzo, her production company and the captain of her dance team.
- The complaints include harassment based on sex, religion, race and disability.
This article contains references to sexual harassment and body-shaming.
Lizzo has publicly denied allegations she created a hostile work environment, including weight-shaming and sexually denigrating behaviour.
Three former dancers for made the accusations in a lawsuit released on Tuesday.
The lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court named Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc and the captain of her dance team, Shirlene Quigley, court documents showed.
In a statement shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, Lizzo firmly denied the accusations made against her.
"These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized," she wrote.
"These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."
Lizzo said that while she has "high standards" and has had to make "hard decisions", she has never intended "to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team".
"I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days."
The complaints filed by plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez include harassment based on sex, religion, race and disability.
In the lawsuit, the dancers claimed that Lizzo (centre) and her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc, created a hostile work environment. Source: AAP / Amy Harris/AP
The suit also stated that Davis was pressured to participate in a nude photo shoot to stay in a dance competition despite her discomfort. She claimed she feared losing her job if she didn't comply with Lizzo's requests.
Responding to specific allegations of sexual harassment, Lizzo said in her statement on Thursday that while she is "open with [her] sexuality" and expressing herself, she would not "allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not".
Elsewhere in the lawsuit, one of the plaintiffs claimed Lizzo shamed her for her weight gain, before firing her.
"There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never critcize or terminate an employee because of their weight."
“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 plaintiffs’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement.
The lawsuit alleged that Quigley harassed the dancers by subjecting them to her religious beliefs against their will.
“Ms. Quigley was not only vocal about her religious belief but took every opportunity to proselytize to any and all in her presence regardless of protestations,” the lawsuit stated.
The plaintiffs' claimed that Quigley forced the topic of Davis' virginity into conversations and interviews and on social media where she publicly revealed personal details about Davis without her consent.
Davis and Williams were eventually fired while Rodriguez resigned over the behaviour, the lawsuit said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking support for body image concerns and eating disorders can contact Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. More information is available at
