Lizzo sued over claims she created a hostile work environment (tw sexual harassment)
JUST IN: Lizzo sued over claims she created a hostile work environment where former dancers say they were weight-shamed and sexually harassed. https://t.co/OobOwtdExP
- NBC News (@NBCNews) August 1, 2023
Three former dancers have filed a suit against Lizzo, her production company and the dance captain accusing them of:
- sexual harassment
- hostile work environment.
- religious harassment
- racial harassment
- false imprisonment
- interference with prospective economic advantage
+ other allegations
They allege that Lizzo pressured one of them to touch a nude performer at an Amsterdam club and subjected the group to an “excruciating” audition after leveling false accusations that they were drinking on the job. The suit states that Lizzo’s afterparties were routine and nonmandatory - but alleges that those who attended were favored by the singer and had greater job security.
The dancers accused Lizzo of calling attention to one dancer’s weight gain and later berating, then firing, that dancer after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition.
“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
They also accuse the captain of Lizzo’s dance team of proselytizing to other performers and deriding those who had premarital sex while sharing lewd sexual fantasies, simulating oral sex and publicly discussing the virginity of one of the plaintiffs.
The suit does not say if Lizzo knew about this specifically but that she was aware of their complaints about her.
The racial harassment claim is linked to what the suit describes as comments “charged with racial and fat-phobic animus" that were made by touring company employees. In one instance, the dancers asked to be compensated for their down time. This at a rate of 50% of their weekly pay. An accountant allegedly responded to the request by offering 25% and scolding them for being “unacceptable and disrespectful.”
Only the dance team comprised of full-figured women of color were ever spoken to in this manner according to the suit.
Source
The source fully details what happened at the Amsterdam club. I recommend reading it but it can be triggering for some people.