Lizzo is being accused of sexual harassment, body shaming and creating a “toxic work environment.”
The ‘Good as Hell’ performer, 35, is said by three of her dancers to have also subjected them to endure weight-shaming and sexually denigrating behaviour.
Court papers, obtained by Page Six that were filed on Tuesday, show plaintiffs Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams claim they were eventually fired – while the third plaintiff, Noelle Rodriguez, said she resigned over Lizzo’s “stunning” behaviour.
The trio say in their lawsuit that while on a concert trip with the Grammy Award-winning artist to Amsterdam in February 2023, Lizzo invited them for a night out on the town that ended in the city’s Red Light District.
They said in their filing: “Things quickly got out of hand. Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.”
The dancers added Lizzo allegedly “pressured” and “goaded” Davis into touching one of the nude performer’s breasts.
They also claim a month later Lizzo – real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson – deceived them once again into attending a nude show, claiming the action equated to “robbing them of the choice not to participate”.
Davis also claims in the lawsuit at one point she had no choice but to “soil herself” on stage during an “excruciating” re-audition, “fearing the repercussions” of excusing herself to go to the bathroom.
Lizzo is said to have fired the dancer “on the spot” after learning she had recorded one of their meetings even though it was meant to have “a copy of the notes” the artist provided.
Rodriguez resigned shortly thereafter out of solidarity for Davis and the “disrespect” Lizzo allegedly showed her.
The plaintiffs are suing for general and special damages, as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Along with Lizzo, they are suing ‘Big Grrrl Big Touring’ and dancer Shirlene Quigley.
Ron Zambrano, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said in a statement: “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,”
A representatives for Lizzo didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
This article was originally published on IOL.
