According to The Guardian, three former backup dancers of Lizzo, namely Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, have filed a lawsuit against the singer. They allege that Lizzo created a hostile work environment through sexual, racial, and religious harassment during incidents that took place between 2021 and 2023.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles, claims that Lizzo pressured her staff into engaging in sexual acts at afterparties. One specific incident mentioned in the lawsuit alleges that Lizzo pressured a dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam.
Additionally, the lawsuit states that Lizzo subjected her dancers to a grueling 12-hour audition after falsely accusing them of being drunk on the job. She allegedly reprimanded one dancer for gaining weight and later fired that dancer for filming a meeting.
Despite being known for promoting body positivity and self-love, Lizzo has been accused of showing little regard for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of her own staff, according to the lawsuit. The dancers claimed that she engaged in inappropriate behavior, including inviting cast members to touch nude performers and participate in explicit activities during an incident at an Amsterdam club earlier this year.
Lizzo has not yet responded to the serious claims made in the lawsuit.