Lizzo’s Former Backup Dancers File Lawsuit Against Singer, Accusing Her Of Sexual Harassment And Creating Hostile Work Environment

etcanada.com:

Three of Lizzo’s former backup dancers have filed a lawsuit against the singer. The musician — who regularly embraces body positivity — is being accused of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, according to NBC News.

ET also obtained the documents. In the suit, Lizzo — whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson — was accused of drawing attention to one dancer’s weight gain, with the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, saying in a statement: “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,” NBC News reported. READ MORE: Lizzo Drinks Tequila Out Of Her Boot As She Attempts A ‘Shoey’ On Stage In Sydney: ‘This Is F**ked Up’ The weight accusations allegedly came after her South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival performance, with the singer and her choreographer reportedly telling the dancer, Arianna Davis, that she seemed “less committed” to her role.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, stated this was a “thinly veiled” dig at Davis’ weight. Davis and Crystal Williams — another one of Lizzo’s former dancers — began performing with the hitmaker after starring on her reality TV show “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” in 2021, the suit stated.

They ended up being fired. A third dancer, Noelle Rodriguez — who was said to have resigned earlier this year — began working for Lizzo the same year after performing in the “Rumors” music video.