Lizzo denies employee harassment allegations: 'I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be'
US performer Lizzo has broken her silence on the allegations made against her by her former dancers, who sued her for creating a hostile work environment.
In a lengthy statement published on her Instagram account on Thursday, Aug. 3, the singer began by saying that the last few days have been "gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing" for her.
Noting how she usually does not pay attention to negative remarks about her, Lizzo said that she decided to speak up this time around as the claims 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 wrote.
"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," she added.
She stressed that while she had to make hard decisions as their boss, it was never her intention to "make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team."
"I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. 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," Lizzo wrote.
"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," she continued.
She ended her statement by saying that while she is hurt, she is determined to not let the good work she's done in the world be overshadowed by the issues she's currently embroiled in.
The suit filed in Los Angeles accuses Lizzo as well as other defendants of various violations of California labor law.
"Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez allege sexual, religious, and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment, among other things," the law firm representing them said in a statement.
"Davis and Williams were eventually fired while Rodriguez resigned over the appalling behavior," it added.
According to NBC News, the two dancers were dismissed in April and May. Williams was fired after she "challenged an assertion" from the singer that they were drinking before shows.
Lizzo allegedly overworked her group of dancers and asked them to audition again after an "excruciating" 12-hour rehearsal. "If Lizzo was dissatisfied with their performances, the suit alleges, the dancers would be fired and sent home."
The media outlet also reported that the singer, who has been known as a body positivity advocate, allegedly pointed out a dancer's weight gain and later berated and fired her "after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition."
Another claim centers around an Amsterdam red-light district sex show which the dancers say they felt pressured to attend. At the show, Lizzo pressured her dancers to interact with the nude performers, the suit alleges.
It also alleges that Lizzo's dance leader, Shirlene Quigley, frequently made sexual comments and proselytized her Christian beliefs, especially against pre-marital sex, "regardless of protestations."
The dancers also say that there was an extended dispute over compensation between the legs of Lizzo's global tour.
The lawsuit alleges that white managers from Lizzo's production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT), which was also named in the complaint, "often accused the Black members of the dance team of being lazy, unprofessional, and having bad attitudes."
Following this, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison, who was supposed to direct a documentary about Lizzo, also spoke up about the artist's alleged "bad behavior." She revealed that she had quit the project just weeks after she witnessed how "arrogant, self-centered, and unkind" Lizzo is. (with reports from AFP)