Lizzo was first named in a lawsuit (along with her dance captain Shirlene Quigley) filed by three former dancers: Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez. Several attorneys for the artiste’s former backup dancers have claimed that there are now nine people complaining about the artiste.
Lizzo has vehemently denied the accusations. On social medi she wrote, “These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. 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. 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 went on to say.”
She added, “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. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”
Since breaking her silence at the beginning of this month, Lizzo’s lawyer, Marty Singer, told TMZ that there are new photos showing his client’s accusers “happily carousing” and “gleefully reveling” backstage with performers from a topless cabaret show in Paris.
He claims that the photos are from March 5th, which is about a month after the Bananenbar incident in Amsterdam; where Lizzo is accused of sexual harassment and forcing her employees to dance with the nude performers and eat bananas from their vaginas. The accusers said they were pressured to then go to the Paris topless show after the Amsterdam trip, but Lizzo’s attorney says the photos contradict their “forced” claims.
Singer says they’re “happily cavorting backstage” with the topless dancers (in wigs). He adds that after Amsterdam and Paris, the dancers still continued working with Lizzo for the third leg of her tour; and on top of that, Davis sang Lizzo her praises in an audition tape, just one month after the Paris incident.
Singer added that Davis “tried to explain away her glowing comments about Lizzo by claiming the ‘bulk’ of her accusations were based on things that happened later;” but he said,“That excuse is completely contradicted by the facts, including by these images.”
Singer says Lizzo plans to countersue for malicious prosecution.
