Lizzo accused of sexual harassment, making a hostile work atmosphere in lawsuit by former dancers

LOS ANGELES — Lizzo has been sued by three former dancers who accuse the Grammy winner of sexual harassment and allege the singer and her manufacturing firm created a hostile work atmosphere.

The civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court claims Lizzo pressured one of many dancers to interact with nude performers at a membership in Amsterdam and shamed one other dancer for her weight achieve earlier than firing her.

Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez make quite a few prices together with sexual, spiritual and racial harassment, incapacity discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.

The authorized criticism seeks unspecified damages and names Melissa Viviane Jefferson, identified professionally as Lizzo, her manufacturing firm Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the performer’s dance staff.

Representatives for Lizzo didn’t instantly reply to emails looking for touch upon the lawsuit.

The court docket submitting claims that after performing a live performance in Amsterdam, Lizzo and her crew attended a sexually themed present at a membership within the metropolis’s infamous Red Light District. During the present, Lizzo led a chant pressuring Davis to the touch the breasts of one of many nude girls performing on the membership, the submitting states.

“Finally, the chorus became overwhelming, and a mortified Ms. Davis acquiesced in an attempt to bring an end to the chants,” the criticism states. “Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed.”

Lizzo, who routinely champions physique positivity, can also be accused of calling out Davis for her weight achieve after accusing the dancer of not being dedicated to her position. Davis was fired in May for recording a gathering throughout which Lizzo had given out notes to dancers about their performances, in response to the criticism.

Quigley, who served as a decide on the singer’s actuality present “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” is accused within the lawsuit of pushing her Christian beliefs onto dancers. The court docket submitting claims Quigley referred to Davis as a “non-believer” and informed co-workers that “No job and no one will stop me from talking about the Lord.”

In addition, after discovering that Davis was a virgin, Quigley often mentioned the topic, introduced it up in interviews and even posted about it on social media, “broadcasting an intensely personal detail about Ms. Davis to the world,” in response to the lawsuit.