The three dancers who sued Lizzo for sexual harassment, discrimination and other claims are not happy with Lizzo’s statement responding to the allegations.
via Page Six:
“Lizzo has failed her own brand and has let down her fans,” Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez said in a statement to Page Six Thursday via their attorney Ron Zambrano.
“Her denial of this reprehensible behavior only adds to our clients’ emotional distress.”
The dancers then slammed Lizzo’s “dismissive comments” about their situation and “utter lack of empathy,” stating they are “quite telling about her character” and alleging they “only serve to minimize the trauma she has caused the plaintiffs and other employees who have now come forward sharing their own negative experiences.”
Davis, Williams and Rodriguez concluded via their lawyer, “While Lizzo notes it was never her intention ‘to make anyone feel uncomfortable,’ that is exactly what she did to the point of demoralizing her dancers and flagrantly violating the law.”
Lizzo, 35, took to social media early Thursday morning to address the scandalous claims made about her in her former colleagues’ suit, which was filed on Tuesday and previously obtained by Page Six.
The “About Damn Time” singer said in response to the backlash she’s received, “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.”
Lizzo then seemed to place the blame on the plaintiffs by noting that they allegedly were former employees who “already publicly admitted” that their behavior while touring with her had been “inappropriate and unprofessional.”
She then appeared to defend her actions, explaining that with her “passion” comes “hard work and high standards” and she has to “make hard decisions.”
The “Special” singer also noted that she was not trying to portray herself as a “victim” but insisted she is not “the villain” that she has been made out to be this week.
Lizzo — who was accused in the suit of pressuring her dancers to attend sex shows in Europe, in which they would allegedly eat bananas out of the club performers’ vaginas — added, “I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.”
She said there is “nothing” she takes more seriously than “the respect” women deserve and also denied ever weight-shaming any of her colleagues, which was one of the allegations Davis made in the suit.
The “Truth Hurts” singer concluded, “I am 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 left the comments section of her Instagram post open, which allowed for several people to weigh in with their thoughts.
While some showed support for the musician, others agreed with Davis, Williams and Rodriguez that Lizzo did not appear to be taking responsibility for her actions.
“‘I am very open with my sexuality’ does not mean your dancers want/ have to be as open,” one critic wrote. “RESPECT THEIR CHOICES”
Another fan added, “Girllll this said a whole lot of nothing. Everyone runs around saying ‘believe all women’ ‘believe victims’ but now that the aggressor is a woman, y’all wanna believe this PR written statement?
“She straight out denies the fat shaming but dances around the topic of sexual harassment… ok no. And trying to make YOURSELF a victim and pull a uno reverse is some WILD s–t to do.”
Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and dance captain Shirlene Quigley are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. The latter is accused of speaking inappropriately about her sexual fantasies and masturbatory habits in front of dancers while also proselytizing.
Since the allegations became public, other people who previously worked with the “Good As Hell” singer have come forward to share their own experiences and back up the three dancers’ claims.
Dancer Courtney Hollinquest alleged via her Instagram Story on Tuesday that what the pro dancers claimed in the suit was “very much [her] experience in [her] time there.”
Quinn Whitney Wilson, Lizzo’s former creative director, then reposted Hollinquest’s statement and wrote over it, “I haven’t been apart of that world for around three years, for a reason.”
Sophia Nahli Allison, who was hired to direct the pop star’s documentary, “Love, Lizzo,” said on her social media that she quit after two weeks because the singer was allegedly “arrogant, self-centered and unkind.”
Meanwhile, Beyoncé also poignantly left out Lizzo’s name from “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)” during a tour stop in Massachusetts. However, her mother, Tina Knowles, later denied that the omission was done due to the lawsuit.
We’d just like to point out that Lizzo IS being sued. It’s against her best interest to admit any form of guilt. When it comes to lawsuits, any expression of sympathy or empathy will be assumed as an admission of liability — and that’s never good.
