Update 08/02/2023 2:20pm:
Two of the three backup dancers who are suing Lizzo are speaking out about the allegations in an interview posted by the TODAY show.
Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams opened up about the alleged harassment they endured while working with Lizzo. Davis spoke about Lizzo making veiled comments about her weight, allegedly telling her, "You know, dancers get fired for gaining weight?"
Williams also spoke about the toxic work environment claims in the lawsuit, as she says Lizzo told them that it was a privilege that she knew their names. You can hear more above.
Original 08/01/2023 1:27pm:
A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday (August 1) by three of Lizzo's former backup dancers, who accused the singer of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Shirlene Quigley, the captain of Lizzo's dance team, and the singer's production company were also named in the lawsuit.
Ron Zambrano, the attorney for the plaintiffs, released a statement on the matter: "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."
Some of the accusations in the lawsuit include a veiled remark about one dancer's weight after an appearance at South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival. One of the accusers, Arianna Davis, also described an incident at a strip club in Amsterdam.
During an afterparty at the club, Lizzo allegedly "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."
Lizzo’s production company is also included in the lawsuit after one dancer claims that a member of her security forced her to stay in a room to search her phone for a video of a staff meeting.
Lizzo has yet to address the claims.
Source: NBC News
