You don’t mess with Lizzo — OR her team members!
After performing at Thursday night’s Summerfest in Milwaukee, the 31-year-old took to Twitter claiming members of her team were assaulted by a “bigoted” security guard.
DID ANYBODY GET FOOTAGE OF THE SECURITY GUARD THAT TACKLED AND ATTACKED MY TEAM @SUMMERFEST ?!
THEY SLAPPED AND MANHANDLED MY HAIR STYLIST AND STYLIST AND IM OUT FOR BLOOD
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 28, 2019
Tonight was beautiful. You are beautiful. But the struggle ain’t over. Racism and bigotry don’t care if you’re a headliner. Thank you @summerfest. We will be filing a complaint against that bigoted “security” guard and I hope you’ll be cooperative in seeking justice. ??xoxo pic.twitter.com/bt3J5Cy1AS
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 28, 2019
via Complex:
Shortly after Lizzo’s posts, Summerfest organizers released a statement, insisting they “do not tolerate racism in any form and reassured the singer they would conduct a “thorough investigation.”
Lizzo’s stylist Marko Monroe shared his account of the alleged assault in a series of Instagram stories. According to a transcript by The Current, Monroe claims he was in the stage’s pit taking photos of Lizzo during her performance when a guard began “manhandling” him.
“He then grabs my arm and puts it behind my back. I’m like, ‘I work here, look at my badge,’ and he was not listening and he escorted me off the stage,” said Monroe, who claimed he was eventually placed in a holding cell. “[…] Then finally [the tour manager] came through, and then the thing that really pissed me off is that the guy who manhandled me wanted me to apologize before I could be let out of jail. Now, if that does not scream homophobia one-thousand percent, then I just don’t know what does.”
Lizzo is such a sweet soul — it’s a shame any of this happened.
1/2 Lizzo gave an incredible performance which she now feels is tarnished by events which occurred during the performance. We do not tolerate racism in any form. We will conduct a thorough investigation.
— Summerfest (@Summerfest) June 28, 2019
2/2 We have an experienced crowd management staff who strive to protect performers & fans. While there may be challenges during a performance, we expect those challenges to be handled professionally & respectfully. If those standards were not met, we will take appropriate action.
— Summerfest (@Summerfest) June 28, 2019
