Lizzo is talking out after three of her former dancers filed a lawsuit in opposition to her for allegedly making a poisonous work atmosphere.
“These previous couple of days have intestine wrenchingly troublesome and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” Lizzo started in a prolonged assertion on Thursday, August 3, calling the allegations in opposition to her “false,” “unbelievable” and “too outrageous to not be addressed.”
She continued: “These sensationalized tales are coming from former workers who’ve already publicly admitted that they had been advised their habits on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional. As an artist, I’ve at all times been very keen about what I do. I take my music and my performances severely as a result of on the finish of the day, I solely wish to put out the most effective artwork that represents me and my followers.”
Lizzo wrote that “with ardour comes laborious work and excessive requirements,” claiming that she has to make “laborious choices” however doesn’t deliberately make individuals not really feel “valued as an essential a part of the workforce.” She added that she is “not right here to be checked out as a sufferer” however can be “not the villain” that she has been “portrayed” as.
“There’s nothing I take extra severely than the respect we deserve as ladies on this planet. I do know what it feels prefer to be physique shamed each day and would completely by no means criticize or terminate an worker due to their weight,” she wrote. “I’m harm however I cannot let the nice work I’ve carried out on this planet be overshadowed by this. I wish to thank everybody who has reached out in help to raise me up throughout this troublesome time.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, August 1, that Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez sued Lizzo, her tour firm and dance captain Shirlene Quigley, claiming they skilled a hostile work atmosphere, non secular harassment, incapacity discrimination, sexual harassment and extra whereas working with Lizzo, whose actual title is Melissa Jefferson.
Within the swimsuit, the dancers recalled a number of situations of being uncomfortable performing sure duties, together with collaborating in a nude photograph shoot for Lizzo’s actuality present.
“Ms. Davis broke down in tears on set whereas struggling to decide on between a once-in-a-lifetime profession alternative and placing her physique on show in opposition to her will,” the lawsuit learn. “This expertise foreshadowed the sexually charged and uncomfortable atmosphere Lizzo’s workers can be pressured to endure.”
The trio additionally recalled an unsavory journey to the Purple Mild District in Amsterdam whereas on tour. Whereas Lizzo invited her crew to the non-compulsory outing, the dancers felt “obligated” to go as a result of they had been afraid of “dropping their jobs.”
“Whereas at Bananenbar, issues rapidly received out of hand. Lizzo started inviting solid members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and consuming bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas,” the paperwork said. “Lizzo then turned her consideration to Ms. Davis and commenced pressuring Ms. Davis to the touch the breasts of one of many nude ladies performing on the membership.”
After the allegations got here to mild, Sophia Nahli Allison — who briefly labored with Lizzo to movie a documentary — shared her expertise with the “Fact Hurts” singer.
“I often don’t touch upon something popular culture associated. However, in 2019, I traveled a bit with Lizzo to be the director of her documentary,” Allison, 36, wrote by way of Twitter on the time. “I walked away after about 2 weeks. I used to be handled with such disrespect by her,” she alleged.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker — who was impressed to share her expertise after listening to in regards to the lawsuit — went on to clarify that she discovered Lizzo to be “boastful, self-centered and unkind” of their temporary interplay.
“I used to be not protected and was thrown right into a sh—y state of affairs with little help,” she claimed. “My spirit mentioned to run as quick as you f—king can and I’m so grateful I trusted my intestine. I felt gaslit and was deeply harm, however I’ve healed.”
