Current:Home > InvestLizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers -TruePath Finance
Lizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers
View
Date:2025-04-17 03:51:57
Grammy-award winning singer Lizzo is being sued by three of her former dancers for alleged harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
The complaint was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lizzo, whose legal name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, as well as her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT).
Shirlene Quigley, captain of Lizzo's dance team, is also named in the complaint.
Dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez allege "sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment," according to the press release about the lawsuit from the plaintiffs' attorney Ron Zambrano.
"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," said Zambrano.
MORE: Lizzo takes on size-ism in new show and album
The complaint alleges that Lizzo pressured her dancers to engage in a nude photo shoot during Lizzo's "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls" dance competition show on Amazon Prime, as well as attend nude performances and touch nude performers at clubs in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
Dancers also say they were "tricked" into going to a nude cabaret bar by Lizzo, claiming she concealed details about the event they were attending.
Plaintiffs also accuse BGBT management of discriminating against the Black members of the dance team in both pay and treatment.
MORE: Lizzo talks new show, new music and why fight against body shamers continues
Davis also asserts that Lizzo and her team made negative comments alluding to her weight gain.
The dancers also accuse Quigley of preaching Christianity and against premarital sex in the workplace, "while oversharing her masturbatory habits and sex life with her husband," according to the press release. She is also accused of broadcasting a dancer's virginity in the workplace, as well as in interviews and social media.
Davis and Williams say they were fired, while Rodriguez resigned over the alleged workplace climate.
When Rodriguez resigned, she said "Lizzo aggressively approached Ms. Rodriquez, cracking her knuckles, balling her fists" and "feared that Lizzo intended to hit her and would have done so if one of the other dancers had not intervened."
The "Truth Hurts" pop star is known for her body positive activism and upbeat pop music about self-love.
Lizzo's representatives, BGBT and Quigley have not yet returned ABC News' requests for comment.
veryGood! (1543)
Related
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Escaped Virginia inmate identified as a suspect in a Maryland armed carjacking, police say
- A government shutdown in Nigeria has been averted after unions suspended a labor strike
- John Legend blocks Niall Horan from 'divine' 4-chair win on 'The Voice': 'Makes me so upset'
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Juvenile shoots, injures 2 children following altercation at Pop Warner football practice in Florida
- Seahawks safety Jamal Adams leaves with concussion in first game in a year
- How John Mayer Feels About His Song With Katy Perry Nearly a Decade After Their Breakup
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Suspect in kidnapping of 9-year-old Charlotte Sena in upstate New York identified
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- How John Mayer Feels About His Song With Katy Perry Nearly a Decade After Their Breakup
- Did House Speaker Kevin McCarthy make a secret deal with Biden on Ukraine?
- Powerball jackpot hits $1.2 billion after no winners Monday
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Taiwan issues rain and strong wind alerts for Typhoon Koinu that’s approaching the island
- Wisconsin Democrat Katrina Shankland announces bid to unseat US Rep. Derrick Van Orden
- Saudi soccer team refuses to play in Iran over busts of slain general, in potential diplomatic row
Recommendation
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
What to know about a UN vote to send a Kenya-led force to Haiti to curb gang violence
Rookie Devon Witherspoon scores on 97-yard pick six as Seahawks dominate Giants
Group behind ‘alternative Nobel’ is concerned that Cambodia barred activists from going to Sweden
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Preaching a more tolerant church, Pope appoints 21 new cardinals
Pamela Anderson Reveals How Having Self-Acceptance Inspired Her Makeup-Free Movement
Police raid on Kansas newspaper appears to have led to a file on the chief, bodycam video shows