Under Lizzo's most recent social media posts, the comment sections are positive. Fans who are shocked by the charges of bullying, body shaming, and harassment want an explanation.
 |
| Lizzo |
On August 1, three former Lizzo dancers commenced legal action in Los Angeles. Lizzo, Shirlene Quigley, the leader of the dance team, and the production business Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. are all mentioned. Although not all charges are addressed at all individuals, the lawsuit's lengthy list of claims centers on bullying, body shaming, and a hostile work environment.
Lizzo is said to have encouraged her dancers to engage in sexual activity with and touch naked performers in an Amsterdam strip club, among other things. The complainant allegedly vehemently rejected many times, but Lizzo persisted in pressuring them.
In the complaint, a 12-hour rehearsal is also described as being "excruciating." Lizzo allegedly withdrew the sample after accusing dancers of imbibing at the studio. She is also accused of humiliating a dancer for putting on weight. The plaintiffs felt pressured to provide personal information or to take actions against their will on a number of instances out of fear of losing their jobs.
The complaint also names dancer Shirlene Quigley, who has performed with Rihanna, Beyonce, and Missy Elliot and is well-known from Lizzo's reality series Watch out for the Big Grrrls. It is said that she sought to force her Christian religion on other dancers and harassed them with religious lectures.
She is also said to have disclosed private information about a plaintiff's sex life in public. Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., Lizzo's production business, has been accused of racism. The dancers, all of whom were women of color, were frequently accused of being unprofessional and sluggish by the white administration, while white staff escaped similar criticism.
When the complaint was filed, the three plaintiffs, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, were no longer employed by Lizzo's dance crew. One has quit, and two have been fired—under humiliating circumstances, according the lawsuit.
They shared solidarity messages and affirming testimony from others on social media after the case was made public. For instance, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison mentions in an Instagram story that she abandoned her position as the documentary's director after having a similar incident in 2019 while filming the Lizzo documentary. She comments, "This kind of abuse of power happens far too frequently."
The former dancer and Lizzo creative director Courtney Hollinquest concurred with the lawsuit's claims in an Instagram story and expressed her support for the plaintiffs: "This was very much my experience in my time. A big thank you to the dancers who had the guts to expose this.
People are writing on social media from a place of rage, disappointment, and shock. These accusations, in my opinion, would destroy all Lizzo genuinely stands for. The native of Detroit, whose true name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has served as an inspiration to several people.
She has socialized herself in gospel, hip hop, and classical music—just listen to Lizzo's fabled flute interludes—and has not only shattered musical barriers but also advanced the body acceptance movement. She has also made public statements in favor of diversity and against bullying.
Lizzo's prior reputation is being questioned in light of the lawsuit's allegations, according to the three plaintiffs' attorney Ron Zambrano, who states: "The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing."
As of August 2nd, 2023, neither Lizzo, Shirlene Quigley, nor the production firm have released any statements.