Pop sensation Lizzo is embroiled in a lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, over claims of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, alleges a series of disturbing accusations, including sexual, religious, and racial harassment, discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment. The former dancers claim they endured sexually denigrating behavior and were coerced into participating in disturbing sex shows between 2021 and 2023.
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Lawsuit Reveals Startling Allegations Against Lizzo
Among the allegations against Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is that she pressured Arianna Davis to touch the breasts of a performer in an Amsterdam nightclub. Davis resisted but eventually acquiesced, fearing repercussions for her future with the team if she didn’t comply.
The pop star, known for promoting body positivity and self-love, is also accused, along with dance choreographer Tanisha Scott, of weight-shaming Arianna Davis during a tour. Davis alleges that they questioned her commitment to her role on the dance cast, leaving her feeling compelled to explain her weight gain and divulge intimate personal details to retain her job.
The lawsuit further implicates dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, for pushing her Christian beliefs on performers and deriding those who engaged in premarital sex. Quigley openly discussed one of the former dancers’ virginity and posted about it on social media, according to the lawsuit.
Racial discrimination allegations have also been levied against the management team of production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that black members of the dance troupe were treated differently, facing unfair accusations of being lazy, unprofessional, and having bad attitudes. Such treatment, the lawsuit claims, perpetuates harmful stereotypes aimed at disparaging and discouraging black women.
Lizzo and the others accused in the lawsuit have been contacted for comment. As the legal battle unfolds, the accusations cast a shadow over the pop star’s image, prompting a thorough investigation into the claims made by her former dancers.
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