2023-08-04 12:30:00
The American pop star is being sued by three former dancers for “harassment”, “discrimination” and “assault”. In an Instagram post, Lizzo denounces “false accusations”.
Bulk denial. Pop star Lizzo has spoken out on her Instagram account for the first time since accusations of stalking three of her former dancers. In a long message, she swears that she never committed the acts of which she is accused, denouncing “false accusations”. “Sometimes I have to make tough decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or feel unvalued in my team,” writes the singer.
The American press revealed on Wednesday that three former Lizzo dancers had decided to sue her for acts relating to “harassment”, “discrimination” and even “assault”. The plaintiffs, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez made a long list of serious charges.
From “sexual, religious and racial harassment”, “discrimination relating to disability”, “aggression and […] sequestration, among other things”, lists their law firm, in a press release. The first two dancers “were ultimately fired as Ms. Rodriguez resigned in the face of this distressing behavior,” the document states.
What Lizzo was quick to recall in her post: “These sensationalized stories come from former employees who have previously admitted publicly that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.” She also adds, “I know how it feels to see your body denigrated on a daily basis and I would never criticize or fire an employee for their weight.”
Other testimonials
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, California, also targets other people. For example, the artist’s head dancer, Shirlene Quigley. She is accused of having frequently made comments of a sexual nature and tried to spread her Christian faith, in particular concerning sex before marriage, “despite protests”.
Shortly after these complaints were made public, director Sophia Nahli Allison spoke up. In an Instagram story and in Twitter publications, the one who was supposed to make a documentary on the pop star Lizzo tells behind the scenes of the shooting, which was to follow her in particular over her concerts.
She testified that she fled after barely “two weeks” as she was treated with “disrespect”: “I witnessed her arrogance, her self-centeredness and her lack of kindness. I was unprotected and thrown into a shitty situation with little support. […] Reading these testimonies made me realize how dangerous the situation was. This kind of abuse of power happens far too often.”
In a publication posted a few hours later, Sophia Nahli Allison reports that other people have contacted her privately following her testimony. They would have told him of having had “similar experiences” with Lizzo: “I support the dancers and all the people who have had similar experiences with her and her team. These working conditions are not acceptable.” The pop star did not comment on the director’s remarks.
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