Lizzo Accused of Sexual Harassment and 'Creating a Hostile Work Environment'

Grammy-winning pop singer Lizzo has been accused of sexual harassment and "creating a hostile work environment." The allegations come from a lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by three dancers who previously worked with Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson. The suit also outlines allegations against her production company — Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. — and her dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley. 

In addition to the sexual harassment claims, the suit contains other allegations as well, such as religious and racial harassment. There are also accusations of false imprisonment and interference with prospective economic advantage. "The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly," reads a statement provided to Entertainment Weekly by Ron Zambrano, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, "while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing."

Among the specific allegations are claims that Lizzo drew attention to dancers' weight, which is in contrast to the body positivity ideals she has always stood for. She even helmed a reality TV series, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, which sought out plus-size dancers for her tour. One of the contestants, Arianna Davis, is part of the suit and claims that at one point Lizzo told her she was "less committed" to her position as a dancer, which is characterized in the suit as being a "thinly veiled" comment on Davis' body.

Davis goes on to claim that Lizzo pressured her to touch a naked man against her will. She alleges that Lizzo "invit[ed] cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers' vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers' vaginas." Davis added that she also refused to touch a woman's breast, and claims this led Lizzo to start a chant that "grew louder and more strident, demanding a visibly uncomfortable Ms. Davis to engage with the performer."

Elsewhere in the suit, it is stated that Davis was afraid to object to a scheduled nude photoshoot, for fear that she would be dismissed. "Ms. Davis broke down in tears on set while struggling to choose between a once in a lifetime career opportunity and putting her body on display against her will," the lawsuit reads. "This experience foreshadowed the sexually charged and uncomfortable environment Lizzo's employees would be forced to endure."

The lawsuit also claims that the dancers were treated differently from the rest of the tour crew, and that Quigley "took every opportunity to proselytize" about her personal religious beliefs "to any and all in her presence regardless of protestations." Eventually, two of the three dancers in the suit were dismissed from the tour, and Lizzo allegedly told the rest of the cast that she had "eyes and ears everywhere," which seems to reference a recording that Davis made of one of the meetings. The dancers are seeking "damages that cover emotional distress including unpaid wages, loss of earnings, and attorney's fees." EW states that representatives for Lizzo, Quigley, and Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.