Lizzo Breaks Silence On Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Lizzo has responded to the lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers. According to a complaint filed in Los Angeles court against Lizzo (real name Melissa Jefferson) and her…
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Lizzo accepts the Record Of The Year award for “About Damn Time” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)Lizzo has responded to the lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers. According to a complaint filed in Los Angeles court against Lizzo (real name Melissa Jefferson) and her Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez are accusing the entertainer of multiple wrongdoings during their time of employment.
"These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing," Lizzo wrote in an Instagram post. "My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. Usually, I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed."
In a complaint obtained by Billboard, the dancers allege that Lizzo pressured the dancers into attending a live sex show in Amsterdam. The lawsuit details at the show, "Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas. Lizzo then turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women performing at the club."
RELATED: Lizzo Sued By Former Dancers For Alleged Sexual Harassment
The lawsuit also alleges that Shirlene Quigley, the captain of Lizzo’s dance team " ... forced her religious beliefs on the plaintiffs and took repeated actions that made them uncomfortable, including commenting about their sexual virginity and simulating oral sex on a banana in front of them."
Comments about dancers' weight were also cited in the lawsuit. Davis alleged that she thought her job was in jeopardy by gaining weight. She noted that Lizzo and others on staff "never explicitly stated it." The lawsuit alleges she "needed to explain her weight gain and disclose intimate personal details about her life in order to keep her job."
Lastly, discrimination was also a part of the suit. Black dancers said they were "treated differently" than dancers of other ethnicities. The Black dancers were allegedly accused of "being lazy, unprofessional, and having bad attitudes." It stated that "none of these same allegations were leveled against dancers who are not black."
"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 responded.
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"As an artist, I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day," she wrote. "I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard, work and high standards."
"Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable, or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team," she wrote.
Lizzo continued by saying she is "not here to be looked at as a victim."
"I also know that I am not the villain that people in the media have portrayed me to be these last few days," she added.
"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 criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight," Lizzo continued. "I am hurt, but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out and support to lift me up during this difficult time."
Davis and Williams responded to Lizzo's statement on their appearance on CNN This Morning Thursday (Aug. 3). Williams said that "there's nothing sensationalized" about their claims. Davis agreed adding, "Personally, looking at the response from Lizzo was so disheartening because she was there."
Take a look at Lizzo's full post below:
Lizzo is a force to be reckoned with. Her body-positive and uplifting messages in her music have her fans yearn for more and rightfully so. The Texas native is a three-time Grammy-winning singer, rapper, and flutist who has continued to trailblaze and empower women; she's become one of the least likely pop stars of the past few years. She garnered mainstream success after the release of her third studio album Cuz I Love You, which was released in 2019. Besides music, she has included liberating those who need it most in everything that she does. Lizzo can now add "fashion designer" to her resume as she announced a collaboration with Fabletics on her inclusive shapewear brand Yitty. “The confidence is from within. You put this on, and you tell yourself that you look good because I promise you, you’re going to feel good.” We can definitely agree that listening to Lizzo makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
Take a look at 10 of Lizzo's best songs:
10. "About Damn Time" (2022)
Atlantic RecordsLizzo released "About Damn Time" as the lead single to her upcoming fourth studio album, 'Special.' "About Damn Time" was written as a way for the singer to feel better about herself and reflect on the past few years of the global pandemic. "I think life had thrown some major traumas and hard experiences at us, especially globally these last few years," she said, per Attack The Culture. "And I wanted to write a song that allowed us to take a moment and celebrate our survival, and celebrate how far we've come. And I think 'About Damn Time' does just that - it does it for me honey." The Grammy-winning singer performed the song during her debut hosting and performance on 'Saturday Night Live.'
9. "Cuz I Love You" from 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic Records"Cuz I Love You" shares the same name to Lizzo's third studio album which was released on April 19, 2019. Per Genius, Lizzo calls this song her "favorite" and it was, apparently, written in 10 minutes. The song is about Lizzo navigating being in love for the first time and being willing to drop everything to make the guy she likes her man. The song is currently certified gold by the RIAA.
8. "Rumors" ft. Cardi B (2021)
Atlantic Records"Rumors" was Lizzo's first song of 2021 and marked her first collab with Bronx rapper Cardi B. The "Truth Hurts" singer was adamant about having Cardi on the track. "There was literally no one else," the Texas native said per Cosmopolitan. "From the day the ink dried on her Atlantic contract, I said, 'Please get me on a song with Cardi B.' She's just funny. I like funny people and she can rap." In the song Lizzo sets rumors straight and calls out artists who post fake streaming numbers. She also name-drops having sex with Drake on track, "I just thought it would be so funny to say. I have a small relationship with him," she said per NME. "He's very cool. I just feel like women, there's so many times where girls' names get dropped in songs because they're fine." "Rumors" is currently certified gold status by the RIAA.
7. "Tempo" ft. Missy Elliott from 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic Records"Tempo" is a twerk anthem that celebrates women's curvaceous figures. The track features Missy Elliott who the Texas star idolizes. "I was like, 'I hope she blesses me with a verse,'" Lizzo explained per Pitchfork. "Like, you never know, you send it to your idols, you never know if they gonna send it back." The song is certified platinum by the RIAA.
6. "Fitness" (2018)
Atlantic Records"Fitness" is all about body positivity. "It’s a celebration of movement, highlighting the power in all body types," she said per Consequence Of Sound. "The women in this video are my team and closest collaborators including the brilliant director Quinn Wilson. I hope to inspire women all over to put themselves first. And next time someone has a critique about you or your body, say 'I don’t do this for you.'" She also spoke about how she wants to influence a younger generation of girls on having a positive outlook on their physical appearance. "To have a big Black girl singing about how she’s working on the calisthenics — because mind you, I be in the gym everyday, but people don’t believe that because I got extra fat and rolls and a big butt — I think that it’s empowering for young girls, to see that it’s okay to work out and not have a six-pack," she said to Billboard.
5. "Jerome" from 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic RecordsIn this slow ballad Lizzo sings about being in an unofficial relationship with a past lover named Jerome, "There aren't enough songs about that," Lizzo said per Pulse Music. "There are so many songs about fairy-tale love and unrequited love, but there aren't a lot of songs about f---boy love. About when you're in a situationship. That story needed to be told." "Jerome" won Lizzo a 2020 Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
4. "Good As Hell" from 'Coconut Oil' (2016)
Atlantic RecordsLizzo's "Good As Hell" was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the 2016 film 'Barbershop: The Next Cut.' It was later released on March 8, 2016 as the lead single to her debut EP 'Coconut Oil.' She shared that she came up with the concept of "Good As Hell" with Ricky Reed who co-wrote the track with her, "It was a natural statement that came out my mouth," Lizzo said per Idolater. The song didn't gain popularity when it dropped but it gained traction when she performed the song at the 2019 MTV VMAs. Lizzo later released a remix with Ariana Grande three years later on October 25, 2019. The song is currently four-times certified platinum by the RIAA.
3. "Boys" from 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic Records"Boys" was released as a single in 2018 and later was put on 'Cuz I Love You' as a bonus track in 2019. In this song, Lizzo speaks about not having a certain type when it comes to dating. The Texas native explained the meaning of the song per Genius, "From this black girl to the world, I want you to identify with my story no matter what you like in yo’ holes. I want people to feel free, I want people to have fun, I want these boys to know that you could be my next victim… if you play your cards right.” "Boys" is currently certified gold status by the RIAA.
2. "Juice" from 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic RecordsLike most of Lizzo's music, it's meant to make you feel like the best version of yourself, and "Juice" is no different. "At the end of the day, I want my music to make people feel good, I want it to help people love themselves," she explained per Cosmopolitan. "This song is about looking in the mirror, loving what you see, and letting everyone know." "Juice" is on Lizzo's 'Cuz I Love You' album that was released in 2019. The song is currently two-times certified platinum by the RIAA.
1. "Truth Hurts" 'Cuz I Love You' (2019)
Atlantic Records"Truth Hurts" is found on Lizzo's 2019 album 'Cuz I Love You' and is by far her most memorable song. The song was inspired by a heartbreaking voicemail from a guy that Lizzo was seeing at the time, "I was so upset and depressed and sad," she said to Billboard adding, "I literally kind of went in the booth and laid down everything, verbatim, that I had said about this person who had hurt me," she said. When this song climbed to No. 1 on the Hot 100, Lizzo became only the third female rapper to earn the spot as a solo artist, following Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Lizzo performed the hit when she opened for the Grammys in 2020. "Truth Hurts" won for Best Pop Solo Performance and 'Cuz I Love You' for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The song is currently seven-times certified platinum by the RIAA.
