Lizzo got under fire over the last couple of days as claims emerged accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. A lawsuit was filed against the singer by her crew’s former dancers on Tuesday.
Now, Lizzo has put out a statement quashing all the allegations as false, saying that they as “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
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Lizzo Breaks Silence On Sexual Harassment Allegations
After a tumultuous couple of days where Lizzo was accused by her team’s three former dancers of forcing them to engage in sexual acts, the ‘Juice’ hitmaker issued a statement denying all the allegations. In an Instagram post, she defended herself, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT) and Shirlene Quigley, the captain of her dance team.
Lizzo wrote, “These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
She further added, “As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never been my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”
Lizzo also thanked her fans and those who still support her. She clearly gave the message that she is not trying to be the victim, but she certainly isn’t the villain and her openness to sexuality shouldn’t be exploited.
“There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. 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. I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time,” Lizzo concluded her statement.
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What Are The Allegations Against Lizzo?
The lawsuit against Lizzo has been filed by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, who were former dancers on her tour. The first two were fired from the dance team while Rodriguez said she quit herself because of the treatment they all received.
The women claim that Lizzo was abusive and pressured a dancer to touch the breasts of a nightclub performer. There were also body-shaming claims made against her. Further, the singer’s dance captain Shirlene Quigley was accused of sharing gory sexual fantasies with the dancers and imposing her religious beliefs on them. Apparently, racial discrimination also happened in the troupe.
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