Three of Lizzo’s former dancers filed a lawsuit towards her on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing the Grammy-winning singer and the captain of her dance crew making a hostile work surroundings whereas performing live shows on her Special Tour this yr.
The lawsuit, a replica of which was offered to The New York Times by the plaintiffs’ regulation agency, mentioned the dancers had been “exposed to an overtly sexual atmosphere that permeated their workplace,” which included “outings where nudity and sexuality were a focal point,” it mentioned. The go well with was first reported by NBC.
The defendants embrace Lizzo, utilizing her full identify Melissa Jefferson as an alternative of her stage identify; her manufacturing firm, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc.; and Shirlene Quigley, the tour’s dance captain. It doesn’t specify whether or not the singer was conscious of the plaintiffs’ allegations linked to Ms. Quigley.
The go well with alleges that Lizzo and Ms. Quigley have been concerned in a number of episodes that attorneys for the three dancers mentioned amounted to sexual and non secular harassment and weight shaming, amongst different allegations.
The go well with alleges that Ms. Quigley “made it her mission to preach” Christianity to the dancers, and fixated on virginity, whereas Lizzo sexually harassed them.
On one event whereas at a nightclub in Amsterdam, the lawsuit says, Lizzo started inviting staff to the touch nude performers and deal with dildos and bananas used of their performances.
Out of worry of retaliation, a dancer ultimately “acquiesced” to touching the breast of a nude feminine performer regardless of repeatedly expressing little interest in doing so, the go well with says.
Representatives for Lizzo and her manufacturing firm didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Tuesday.
Two of the plaintiffs, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams, started performing with Lizzo after competing on her actuality tv present on Amazon Prime, “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” in 2021. The present was a possibility to provide plus-size dancers illustration, Lizzo mentioned on the time. Ms. Davis and Ms. Williams have been fired within the spring of 2023, the lawsuit says.
Separately, a 3rd plaintiff, Noelle Rodriguez, was employed in May 2021 to carry out in Lizzo’s “Rumors” music video and remained on as a part of her dance crew. According to the lawsuit, Ms. Rodriguez resigned shortly after Ms. Davis and Ms. Williams had been fired.
Some of the allegations appeared to take goal at Lizzo’s repute for championing physique positivity and inclusivity.
“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Ron Zambrano, mentioned in a press release on Monday. Privately, he mentioned, Lizzo “weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
Some of Lizzo’s statements to the dancers gave Ms. Davis, who was identified with a binge consuming dysfunction, the impression that she needed to “explain her weight gain and disclose intimate personal details about her life in order to keep her job,” the go well with says.
Since her breakout hit “Truth Hurts” dominated charts in 2019, Lizzo has popularized “feel-good music” and self-love and has celebrated range in all types by churning out empowerment anthems, introducing a size-inclusive shapewear line and racking up thousands and thousands of views on social media.
She received this yr’s Grammy for report of the yr for “About Damn Time.”
Diana Reddy, an assistant professor on the School of Law on the University of California, Berkeley, mentioned that allegations that fall outdoors legally protected classes might undermine Lizzo’s body-positive message and “could certainly encourage a settlement.”
Proving a hostile work surroundings within the unconventional leisure business is troublesome, she mentioned, so the plaintiffs’ attorneys could possibly be hoping for a settlement. “Employment discrimination plaintiffs don’t fare particularly well in court,” Ms. Reddy mentioned.
Source: www.nytimes.com