Current:Home > NewsLizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers-LoTradeCoin
Lizzo sued for alleged hostile work environment, harassment by former dancers
lotradecoin securities View Date:2025-01-12 16:37:31
Grammy-award winning singer Lizzo is being sued by three of her former dancers for alleged harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
The complaint was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lizzo, whose legal name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, as well as her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT).
Shirlene Quigley, captain of Lizzo's dance team, is also named in the complaint.
Dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez allege "sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment," according to the press release about the lawsuit from the plaintiffs' attorney Ron Zambrano.
"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," said Zambrano.
MORE: Lizzo takes on size-ism in new show and album
The complaint alleges that Lizzo pressured her dancers to engage in a nude photo shoot during Lizzo's "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls" dance competition show on Amazon Prime, as well as attend nude performances and touch nude performers at clubs in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
Dancers also say they were "tricked" into going to a nude cabaret bar by Lizzo, claiming she concealed details about the event they were attending.
Plaintiffs also accuse BGBT management of discriminating against the Black members of the dance team in both pay and treatment.
MORE: Lizzo talks new show, new music and why fight against body shamers continues
Davis also asserts that Lizzo and her team made negative comments alluding to her weight gain.
The dancers also accuse Quigley of preaching Christianity and against premarital sex in the workplace, "while oversharing her masturbatory habits and sex life with her husband," according to the press release. She is also accused of broadcasting a dancer's virginity in the workplace, as well as in interviews and social media.
Davis and Williams say they were fired, while Rodriguez resigned over the alleged workplace climate.
When Rodriguez resigned, she said "Lizzo aggressively approached Ms. Rodriquez, cracking her knuckles, balling her fists" and "feared that Lizzo intended to hit her and would have done so if one of the other dancers had not intervened."
The "Truth Hurts" pop star is known for her body positive activism and upbeat pop music about self-love.
Lizzo's representatives, BGBT and Quigley have not yet returned ABC News' requests for comment.
veryGood! (733)
Related
- I loved to hate pop music, until Chappell Roan dragged me back
- Revolve Sale Finds Under $60: Up to 82% Off Must-Have Styles From Nike, AllSaints & More
- Biggest NBA Finals blowouts: Where Mavericks' Game 4 demolition of Celtics ranks
- Charles Barkley says he will retire from television after 2024-25 NBA season
- US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rise
- South Africa set for new coalition government as the late Nelson Mandela's ANC is forced to share power
- Supporters say China's Sophia Huang Xueqin, #MeToo journalist and activist, sentenced to jail for subversion
- Derek Jeter’s New York castle might finally have a buyer
- Travis Kelce Praises Taylor Swift For Making Eras Tour "Best In The World"
- Can Florida win Stanley Cup? Panthers vs. Oilers Game 4 live stream, TV, time, odds, keys
Ranking
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Revolve Sale Finds Under $60: Up to 82% Off Must-Have Styles From Nike, AllSaints & More
- 28 people left dangling, stuck upside down on ride at Oaks Amusement Park: Video
- Motorcycle riding has long been male-dominated. Now, women are taking the wheel(s)
- Beyoncé takes home first award in country music category at 2024 Billboard Music Awards
- Ludvig Aberg leads after two rounds of the US Open; Tiger Woods misses cut
- Prince Louis Adorably Steals the Show at Trooping the Colour Parade
- The 'Bridgerton' pair no one is talking about: Lady Whistledown and Queen Charlotte
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé's BeyGood charity donates $100K to Houston law center amid Jay
-
South Africa set for new coalition government as the late Nelson Mandela's ANC is forced to share power
-
Euro 2024: Spain 16-year-old Lamine Yamal becomes youngest player in tournament history
-
My autistic brother fought an unaccepting world. My graduating students give me hope.
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Follow Your Dreams
-
What we know about the fight between conspiracist Alex Jones and Sandy Hook families over his assets
-
4 Florida officers indicted for 2019 shootout with robbers that killed a UPS driver and passerby
-
Biden preparing to offer legal status to undocumented immigrants who have lived in U.S. for 10 years