Accusations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment hang over the American singer, issued by her former dancers.
Lizzo finally breaks the silence to face the serious accusations made by three of her former dancers, claiming she harassed them and created a hostile work environment. In a poignant message on social networks on August 3, the American singer expresses her distress at the the last “extremely difficult and disappointing” days.
The star begins his statement by defending his professional integrity, morals and respect, which have been called into question by the allegations. Lizzo usually admits not responding to false accusations, but these are too mind-boggling and shocking to ignore. She feels compelled to publicly address these allegations.
Lizzo reacts to accusations: “I’m hurt”
In this tumultuous time, Lizzo tries to deal with the consequences of these disturbing statements and appeals to the sincerity of her fans to understand the truth. US media, such as NBC News and Variety, are reporting that three former Lizzo dancers are filing a lawsuit against her. They accuse him of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, as well as discrimination based on disability, religion and race. The law firm representing Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez made this statement public.
According to Lizzo, these allegations are sensationalized and come from employees who have been criticized for their inappropriate behavior on tour. As an artist, Lizzo admits to being passionate about her work, which involves hard work and high expectations to best represent her art and her fans.
She stresses that she never intended to make anyone uncomfortable or to devalue members of her team. Lizzo says she doesn’t want to be seen as a victim or “the bad guy,” reminding that she deals with fatphobia on a daily basis and that she would never have criticized an employee for her weight. Other people have voiced similar rebukes against the singer since the accusations were made public.
The lawsuits filed by former Lizzo employees do not specify any amount of compensation, including for unpaid wages, lost income, or attorney’s fees. The case remains open and continues to generate many strong reactions.