Current:Home > reviewsLizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers -Prime Capital Blueprint
Lizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers
View
Date:2025-04-15 15:57:41
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! (5786)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Killing of Palestinian farmer adds to growing concerns over settler violence in West Bank
- Is lettuce good for you? You can guess the answer. But do you know the healthiest type?
- Climate activists smash glass protecting Velazquez’s Venus painting in London’s National Gallery
- Trump's 'stop
- South Korea plans to launch its first military spy satellite on Nov. 30
- 7 bystanders wounded in shooting at Texas college homecoming party, sheriff’s office says
- The new Selma? Activists say under DeSantis Florida is 'ground zero' in civil rights fight
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Who is the Vikings emergency QB? Depth chart murky after Cam Akers, Jaren Hall injuries
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Police say a gunman fired 22 shots into a Cincinnati crowd, killing a boy and wounding 5 others
- Bus crashes into building in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, killing 1 and injuring 12
- Is lettuce good for you? You can guess the answer. But do you know the healthiest type?
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Morale down, cronyism up after DeSantis takeover of Disney World government, ex-employees say
- New Edition announces Las Vegas residency dates starting in late February after touring for 2 years
- NBA highest-paid players in 2023-24: Who is No. 1 among LeBron, Giannis, Embiid, Steph?
Recommendation
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Millions are watching people share childhood diaries on TikTok. Maybe that's a bad idea.
A new survey of wealthy nations finds favorable views rising for the US while declining for China
Michigan mayoral races could affect Democrats’ control of state government
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Watch: NYPD officers rescue man who fell onto subway tracks minutes before train arrives
Denver police investigate shooting that killed 2, injured 5 at a private after-hours biker bar
Colleges reporting surges in attacks on Jewish, Muslim students as war rages on