The Lizzo allegations and fallout
Unpacking the claims against the singer and ongoing backlash
Three of Lizzo's former dancers have come forward to level some serious allegations against her. The "Truth Hurts" singer is facing a damning lawsuit that alleges sexual harassment, fat-shaming, and more. Since the claims were made public, several other people have spoken out to allege they had similar experiences, and Lizzo has broken her silence to address the scandal.
What has Lizzo been accused of?
Three former dancers for Lizzo — Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez — sued the singer in Los Angeles, accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, per Deadline. The lawsuit names Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, as a defendant, as well as production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. and dance captain Shirlene Quigley. Williams and Davis were contestants on Lizzo's reality show "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls," while Rodriguez was initially hired for Lizzo's "Rumors" music video.
The dancers were "exposed to an overtly sexual atmosphere that permeated their workplace" throughout their employment, the suit alleges. In one incident after a 2023 show in Amsterdam, Lizzo allegedly invited the dancers to a strip club, where she "hounded her employees to engage with nude performers" and "catch dildos ejected from performers' vaginas." She allegedly pressured Davis to touch a nude performer and "badgered" a security guard "to get on the club's stage," where his pants were pulled down. On another occasion, Lizzo allegedly invited dancers out but failed to mention they were going to a nude cabaret bar. Additionally, Davis and Williams claim they were "pressured to participate in a nude photoshoot" on "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The plaintiffs also allege dance captain Shirlene Quigley "took every opportunity to proselytize" about her religious beliefs, "routinely" brought up Davis' virginity, and made people uncomfortable with "sexually inappropriate behavior," including by simulating oral sex on a banana and "sharing her masturbatory habits with the dance cast." Dancers were made uncomfortable by sexually inappropriate interactions with tour bus drivers, but "nothing was done" about this, the suit goes on to allege. The management at Big Grrrl Big Touring also "treated the Black members of the dance team differently than other members," the plaintiffs claim.
What else?
After accusing dancers of drinking before shows in April 2023, the lawsuit alleges Lizzo made them go through an "excruciating re-audition" lasting almost 12 hours, during which they weren't allowed a break, and Davis "lost control of her bladder" but continued "dancing in soiled clothes" because she was afraid she would be fired if she left the stage. Lizzo and choreographer Tanisha Scott allegedly expressed "thinly veiled concerns about" Davis' weight gain, "which Lizzo had previously called attention to." (Davis told TMZ that Lizzo said she was "worried about" her when the only way she was noticeably different was that she gained weight, and Lizzo allegedly said during a meeting, "You know, dancers get fired for gaining weight.")
In May 2023, Lizzo allegedly became "furious" and began "hurling expletives" after learning someone recorded a meeting. After Davis admitted it was her — the suit states she makes audio recordings to review later because she becomes "disoriented in stressful situations" due to an eye condition — Lizzo allegedly fired her. Williams, meanwhile, was fired "under the guise of 'budget cuts,'" while Rodriguez resigned after objecting to how Lizzo handled the situation with Davis, according to the lawsuit. After she did so, Lizzo allegedly "aggressively approached" Rodriguez while "cracking her knuckles" and "balling her fists," so Rodriguez "feared that Lizzo intended to hit her and would have done so if one of the other dancers had not intervened."
Has anyone else backed up the allegations?
Shortly after news of the lawsuit broke, dancer Courtney Hollinquest shared the allegations on Instagram, clarifying that she is not part of the suit but saying "this was very much my experience in my time there." Hollinquest also applauded "the dancers who had the courage to bring this to light."
Lizzo's former creative director, Quinn Wilson, also shared the story on social media, writing that she hasn't been part of "that world for around three years, for a reason." Wilson added, "I very much [applaud] the dancers' courage to bring this to light. And I grieve parts of my own experience."
Director Sophia Nahli Allison additionally alleged on Instagram that she traveled with Lizzo in 2019 to be the director of a documentary for the singer but "walked away after about 2 weeks" after being "treated with such disrespect" by her. "I witnessed how arrogant, self-centered, and unkind she is," Allison wrote, adding that she was "not protected and was thrown into a s--tty situation with little support" and "felt gaslit." Allison also said that "reading these reports made me realize how dangerous of a situation it was," and "this kind of abuse of power happens far too often."
In a follow-up post on her Instagram story, Allison said that since she spoke out, she has "had others privately share their very similar experiences" and has also "been affirmed by people who witnessed what I went through." She added, "Lizzo creates an extremely toxic and hostile working environment and undermines the work, labor, and authority of other Black and brown womxn in the process." She is also a "narcissistic bully and has built her brand off of lies," Allison claimed.
In a concert hours after the lawsuit was made public, Beyoncé seemed to omit Lizzo's name during a performance of "Break My Soul (Queen's Remix)," which fans saw as a potential response to the claims. TMZ also resurfaced a video of Lizzo talking about wanting to go to a live Amsterdam sex show in a 2019 radio interview, seemingly fitting with that claim in the suit.
How has Lizzo responded?
In a statement on Thursday, Lizzo responded to the "false allegations," calling them "as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed."
She said the claims were being made by "former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional," continuing that she is "very open with my sexuality and expressing myself" but "cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not." Lizzo also refuted the fat-shaming allegation. "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," she said.
"I'm hurt but I will not let the good work I've done in the world be overshadowed by this," Lizzo added.
Dance captain Shirlene Quigley also posted an Instagram video telling followers that "God is so, so good." While she didn't address any of the lawsuit's claims, she added that she had "such an amazing time on tour."
The plaintiffs told CNN this response was "incredibly frustrating," while attorney Neama Rahmani told Deadline, "Given Lizzo is denying that any of this happened, let's take it to trial."
For Lizzo fans, the allegations have hit hard especially given she is a celebrated advocate for body positivity, raising the question of whether her reputation can recover. "Everything that she stands for as an artist is a big reason as to why people stand behind her as much as they do," Williams told CBS News, adding that she couldn't "sit with" the fact that Lizzo was "contradicting everything that she stands for behind the scenes."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'A new era of hurricanes'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
How Britain's demographic is changing
A 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The story of Japanese jeweller Tasaki
The Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
By Felix Bischof Published
-
'Beast' of a lawsuit: YouTube star and Amazon sued by contestants over abuse claims
The Explainer Can the breakout YouTube star weather a growing scandal engulfing his forthcoming reality TV competition?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
All the records Taylor Swift has broken
Speed Read Swift's 'Eras' tour is now the highest-grossing concert tour in history
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
The video game franchises with the best lore
The Week Recommends The developers behind these games used their keen attention to detail and expert storytelling abilities to create entire universes
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The buzziest movies from the 2023 Venice Film Festival
Speed Read Which would-be Oscar contenders got a boost?
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
America's troubling school bus driver shortage
Speed Read Kids are heading back to school, but they might be having trouble getting a ride
By Theara Coleman Published
-
5 college admissions trends to watch out for this year
Speed Read College advisers and admissions experts say these trends will shape the 2023-2024 admissions cycle
By Theara Coleman Published
-
What's going on with Fyre Festival II?
Speed Read Convicted felon Billy McFarland claims the music festival will happen, for real this time
By Brendan Morrow Published