Lawyers representing three of Lizzo’s former backup dancers, who filed a lawsuit alleging allegations of weight-shaming and workplace sexual harassment, allege that at least six other people have since filed complaints against the singer.
Ron Zambrano, an employment lawyer representing backing dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, said his firm is now reviewing the new complaints.
Zambrano told NBC News the allegations were made by six people who claimed to have toured with Lizzo, either as a backing dancer or on the pop star’s Amazon Studios show, and described that the complaints stemmed from an alleged “sexually charged environment” on Lizzo’s tour. and non-payment of employees.
This comes after dancers Davis, Williams and Rodriguez reunited for an interview with Good Morning America last week, in which they branded the 35-year-old pop star a “fat phobic” and shared sordid stories of her time on tour with her former employer .
Lizzo has vigorously denied the claims made by her former dancers.
Legal issues: The trio have doubled down on their claims against the 35-year-old pop star after filing a lawsuit alleging hostile work environment, weight shaming and sexual harassment
“I know it’s alarming to hear that Lizzo, a plus-sized woman who preaches body positivity, has an underlying fat phobia. “But I want to challenge people to understand that hurt people hurt people,” Davis said.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, opened up about the moment Lizzo allegedly threatened her after telling her she wanted to step down because she felt “insecure” and “disrespectful”.
“She basically started clenching her fists and cracking her knuckles, and she said, ‘You’re so freaking lucky right now,’ while slowly moving toward me.”
Rodriguez then claimed that Lizzo’s best friend jumped off the couch and had to physically hold her.
Davis also broke down in tears as he described the incident when Lizzo allegedly pressured her into touching a naked performer at a sex show in Amsterdam.
“She started singing after I said ‘no’ multiple times,” Davis said, explaining how Lizzo started singing her name “Ari.”
“I touched the actor briefly and withdrew my hands, and you know, everyone kind of burst out laughing because they thought I was funny touching that actor.”
“I kind of laugh about it,” she said, her voice cracking. “Sorry, I’m a little emotional about it.”
“I even remember joking about it because I was just trying to draw attention away from myself.”
When the interviewer asked if she couldn’t have left sooner, Davis replied, “We’re here because we want to be good enough for Lizzo.”
The dancers also said they felt their jobs were always on the line.
“Our jobs are constantly in jeopardy.” “Personally, I’ve never had a secure job in all that time,” Davis said.
She and Williams were fired while Rodriguez resigned in what she says was a reaction to the couple’s alleged treatment.
Speaking up: Lizzo’s former backup dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez called the singer “fatphobic” in a new interview with Good Morning America.
“Fat phobic”: “I know it’s alarming to hear that Lizzo, a plus size woman who preaches body positivity, is fat phobic … But I want to challenge people to understand that hurt people hurt people,” Davis said
Allegations: “She practically started clenching her fists and cracking her knuckles, and she was like, ‘You’re so damn lucky right now,’ like she was slowly moving towards me.”
In her statement on the allegations, Lizzo wrote, “The last few days have been terribly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing.”
“My work ethic, morals and respect were called into question.” My character was criticized. I don’t normally respond to false accusations, but these are as incredible as they sound and too outrageous to ignore.
“These startling stories come from former employees who have publicly admitted to being told their conduct on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
“As an artist, I’ve 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 difficult decisions, but it is never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or feel that they are not valued as an important part of the team.
“I’m not here to be seen as a victim, but I also know that I’m not the villain that people and the media have been portraying me as in recent days.”
“I’m very open and expressive about my sexuality, but I can’t accept or allow others to use that openness to portray me as something I’m not.”
“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 physically shamed on a daily basis and there is no way I would criticize or fire an employee because of their weight .
“I’m hurt, but I won’t let it eclipse the good work I’ve done in the world.” straighten up.”
In their Good Morning America interview, the dancers addressed Lizzo’s response, with Davis explaining, “This post felt like a smash.”
Williams expressed disappointment that Lizzo “didn’t acknowledge our feelings when her brand consists of preaching about women’s empowerment.”
“I’m honestly amazed at the hypocrisy of everything you stand for.” “You contradict right before our eyes,” she said.
Rodriguez added, “For the many women who — because they’re mostly women — have come out and said they feel the same way, or shared their stories with us because they don’t want to share them publicly yet, that is kinda perfect.’ invalidates all our experiences, trauma and pain.’
Lizzo’s Full Statement: The singer addressed all of the claims, saying her morals and values had been called into question
Lizzo performs at Qudos Bank Arena on July 23, 2023 in Sydney, Australia
In their lawsuit, Davis, Williams and Rodriguez accused the Grammy-winning singer — as well as Big Grrrl big touring and dance team captain Shirlene Quigley — of creating a “sexually charged and uncomfortable” work environment.
The trio claim that during a concert tour with the artist to Amsterdam in February 2023, Lizzo invited them to a night on the town that ended in the city’s red light district.
They said in their filing, “Things quickly got out of hand.” “Lizzo began inviting the performers to take turns touching the nude performers, catching the dildos shot out of the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas coming out of the performers’ vaginas sticking out.”
The dancers added that Lizzo allegedly “pressured” and “goaded” Arianna into touching the breasts of one of the nude performers.
In another case, the plaintiffs allege that Lizzo invited the dancers to a club in Paris but failed to mention that it was a nude cabaret bar. This “shocked” the dancers, who said Lizzo had “taken away their decision not to participate,” according to the lawsuit.
Since the lawsuit was filed, Lizzo has lost more than 120,000 followers on Instagram.
Hours after the lawsuit news was released, Lizzo’s former creative director Quinn Whitney Wilson and dancer Courtney Hollinquest claimed they had experienced similar abuse.