Lizzo Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of Hostile Work Environment and Sexual Harassment

A trio of former tour dancers for Lizzo has filed a lawsuit against the artist, claiming that they were subjected to a hostile work environment that included instances of sexual harassment. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and accuses Lizzo and employees of Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. of interrogating dancers about their weight and pressuring them to engage in sexually explicit acts.

According to the plaintiffs, Lizzo began inviting cast members to touch nude performers, catch dildos launched from their vaginas, and eat bananas protruding from their vaginas. The lawsuit details an incident in Amsterdam this year where staff was allegedly pushed to engage with nude performers. One of the plaintiffs, Arianna Davis, was pressured by Lizzo to touch the breasts of a nude woman performing at a club, despite expressing her discomfort. Davis reluctantly agreed, at which point Lizzo and her staff burst into laughter.

The lawsuit also includes allegations of religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment. The plaintiffs, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, have sued Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, the captain of the singer’s dance team.

The plaintiffs claim that Lizzo, known as an advocate of body positivity, questioned Davis about her seeming lack of enthusiasm on tour and implied concerns about her weight gain. Davis felt that she needed to explain her weight gain and disclose intimate personal details to keep her job.

Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges religious harassment by Quigley, who monitored Davis’ virginity and singled out Rodriguez as a non-believer. The complaint states that while participation in prayer was not compulsory, it became clear that engagement was expected.

The assault claim in the lawsuit is based on an incident where Lizzo allegedly approached Rodriguez aggressively, yelling profanities and making threatening gestures. Davis also alleges that she was confined to a room against her will and was not allowed to leave unless she submitted to a search of the contents of her phone. Williams and Rodriguez were terminated from their positions while Rodriguez resigned.

Lizzo’s representative has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.

The lawsuit sheds light on the alleged mistreatment of former tour dancers by Lizzo and the employees of her production company. These serious allegations of a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and discrimination highlight the importance of creating a safe and respectful environment for all workers in the entertainment industry. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and what impact this lawsuit will have on Lizzo’s career and reputation.