Lizzo, the four-time Grammy-winning artist known for promoting body positivity, is facing a lawsuit from three professional dancers who allege that she created a hostile work environment. The lawsuit, filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, accuses Lizzo of sexual, racial, and religious harassment, as well as false imprisonment. The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, filed a total of nine charges against Lizzo and her team, spanning from May 2021 to May 2023.
According to the lawsuit, the dancers were subjected to weight-shaming, sexually denigrating behavior, and pressure to participate in disturbing sex shows. The lawsuit also includes allegations against Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and the captain of her dance team, Shirlene Quigley. The dancers’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, stated that the treatment they endured contradicted Lizzo’s public image of promoting self-love and body positivity.
Lizzo, who was named the “undisputed queen of TikTok” by Billboard magazine, has been a vocal advocate for body positivity. However, the lawsuit claims that she does not always practice what she preaches. The documents allege that Lizzo, her production company, and Quigley created an intolerable work environment that included exposing the dancers to nudity against their will and sharing explicit fantasies and stories.
One specific incident mentioned in the lawsuit involved Lizzo pressuring the dancers to engage with nude performers in Amsterdam’s red-light district, despite one of the dancers repeatedly expressing her discomfort. The complaint also alleges that Lizzo aggressively confronted Rodriguez when she was resigning, causing her to fear for her safety. Additionally, Lizzo is accused of falsely imprisoning one of the dancers and searching her phone and iCloud storage without her consent.
Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams initially met Lizzo while competing on a reality TV show, and Rodriguez was hired as a dancer for Lizzo’s “Rumors” music video. Davis and Williams were later fired, while Rodriguez resigned due to Lizzo’s behavior.
NPR reached out to Lizzo’s representatives for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication. The 44-page complaint paints a stark contrast between Lizzo’s public image and the alleged treatment of her dancers. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to address their claims of a hostile work environment and harassment.
