Lizzo denies ‘outrageous’ harassment, fat-shaming allegations – National | 24CA News
Lizzo has denied allegations that she sexually harassed, fat-shamed, and created a hostile office for 3 of her ex-dancers who filed a authorized criticism on Tuesday.
The pop singer, 35, broke her silence in regards to the lawsuit on Thursday when she shared a press release on social media.
Lizzo known as the allegations “false,” “outrageous” and “sensationalized.”
“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” Lizzo wrote. “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized.”
“These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional,” she continued.
“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,” she wrote.
The Grammy-winning singer admitted that her ardour for her work is accompanied by “high standards.”
“Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never been my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team,” she defended.
Lizzo stated she didn’t need to be “looked at as a victim,” however claimed she is “not the villain people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days.”
“I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not,” she wrote. “There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”
Lizzo stated she is upset to see her work “overshadowed” by news of this lawsuit.
She thanked her supporters for lifting her up in “this difficult time.”
On Tuesday, Lizzo, her dance captain Shirlene Quigley and her manufacturing firm Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT) have been sued by three of the star’s ex-dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez.
Together, the three dancers accused Lizzo and her staff of sexual harassment, spiritual and racial harassment, discrimination and several other different fees. There are additionally accusations that Lizzo pressured certainly one of them to work together with a nude performer in opposition to their will in Amsterdam.
Quigley is accused of proselytizing different dancers and shaming those that had premarital intercourse, whereas additionally discussing lewd sexual fantasies, simulating oral intercourse and publicly discussing one of many plaintiffs’ virginity.
The dancers are suing for damages over emotional misery together with unpaid wages, lack of earnings and lawyer’s charges. They are now not employed by Lizzo and her manufacturing firm. Davis and Williams have been fired, whereas Rodriguez resigned.
On Wednesday, Davis and Williams instructed CBS News that they’re not the one workers to endure beneath Lizzo’s alleged mistreatment. Davis claimed extra workers haven’t come ahead as a result of they’re “so scared for their jobs.”
Other ex-employees, together with Lizzo’s former documentary director Sophia Nahli Allison, have supported the dancers’ lawsuit. Allison known as Lizzo “arrogant, self-centered and unkind.”
In the lawsuit, Davis alleged she was fat-shamed by Lizzo, who she stated implied Davis gained weight throughout her employment. Davis claimed Lizzo didn’t explicitly criticize her weight, however quite gave “the impression that she needed to explain her weight gain and disclose intimate personal details about her life in order to keep her job.”
To CBS, Davis defended her work, no matter her physique kind.
“My dancing ability was the same, my energy was the same,” she instructed the outlet. “The only thing about me that was different was my weight.”
The lawsuit in opposition to Lizzo has been a trending subject on social media because it was filed on Tuesday. Many followers have voiced their disappointment over the allegations, as a lot of Lizzo’s model is targeted on positivity, kindness and acceptance.
Even Beyoncé fanned the flame on Tuesday when she omitted Lizzo’s title from an in-concert efficiency of her tune Break My Soul (Queen’s Remix) in Boston. Lizzo’s title usually seems within the lyrics alongside Black greats like Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill and Nicki Minaj, however Queen Bey gave Lizzo the boot.
Instead, Beyoncé sang “Badu, Badu, Badu, Badu” — an apparent nod to Erykah Badu, the queen of neo-soul.
— With recordsdata from Global News’ Michelle Butterfield
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
