'I am the victim here, not the villain,' Lizzo responds to lawsuit
Lizzo finally addressed the lawsuit filed against her by three former dancers, denying the allegations of creating a toxic work environment. The singer expressed her disappointment and called the claims "false" and "unbelievable."
Lizzo finally addressed the lawsuit filed against her by three former dancers, denying the allegations of creating a toxic work environment. The singer expressed her disappointment and called the claims "false" and "unbelievable."
“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed," Lizzo wrote in an Instagram post.
She emphasized her commitment to hard work and high standards while asserting that she never intended to make anyone feel undervalued as part of her team. "As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it's never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team,” Lizzo added.
The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, filed the lawsuit on August 1, alleging a hostile work environment, religious harassment, disability discrimination, and sexual harassment while working with Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson. They recalled instances of being uncomfortable, including being coerced into participating in a nude photoshoot for Lizzo's reality show.
The lawsuit also recounted a trip to the Red Light District in Amsterdam, where Lizzo invited her crew to an optional outing. However, the dancers felt "obligated" to attend, fearing they might lose their jobs. During the outing, uncomfortable and inappropriate activities allegedly took place, involving nudity and pressure on the dancers to interact in ways they were not comfortable with.