After three of Lizzo's former backup dancers filed a shocking lawsuit against her, the singer has spoken out in a statement posted to social media.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Lizzo, her dance captain Shirlene Quigley, and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. of sexual harassment, disability discrimination, racial harassment, false imprisonment, and more. The suit names Lizzo specifically in several instances of sexual harassment and weight shaming, and alleges that Quigley participated in religious harassment and making sexually explicit comments. In the lawsuit, the dancers allege a hostile workplace in which they were “exposed to an overtly sexual atmosphere that permeated their workplace.”
The dancers who filed the suit — Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez — recount a specific instance in Amsterdam during an outing in the Red Light District, in which they allege Lizzo pressured Davis to touch the breasts of a nude performer.
In the days since the lawsuit was filed, many have expressed disappointment about the allegations, particularly since Lizzo has presented herself as a beacon of inclusivity and love. The plaintiffs' lawyer, Ron Zambrano, addressed this in a statement, according to NPR: “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.”
On Thursday, Lizzo released a statement on social media about the lawsuit, calling the claims “outrageous” and "sensationalized."
“These last few days have been gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” she wrote. “My work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. The sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Lizzo wrote that she is passionate as an artist, which can require hard work and high standards, but noted that she never intends to make anyone uncomfortable.
“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,” she continued. "I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not. 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.
“I’m 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 in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”
This article was originally published on Teen Vogue.
