American singer Lizzo is at the center of a controversy following allegations of harassment and discrimination by three former corps de ballet dancers. Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noel Rodriguez have officially filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles court accusing the singer of creating a toxic work environment. The complaint alleges “sexually abusive” behavior and psychological pressure to appear on erotic shows, and Davis said she was teased about her weight. The complaint concerns not only Lizzo, but also other people close to her. For example, Shirlene Quigley, a corps de ballet captain accused of trying to convert three men to her religion and rebuking them for premarital sex. Also involved are some executives from the production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, which allegedly paid blacks less than whites.
Two of the three women who filed the complaint — Davis and Williams — started working for the singer in 2021 but were fired. While Rodriguez resigned as a sign of disagreement with the way her two female co-stars were treated. The accusations that have been circulating in the US media since yesterday caused a special stir due to the fact that Lizzo is known not only for her music, but also for her commitment to bodypositive. According to the three women, the singer had to “pay attention” to the dancer’s weight gain. The situation, which Ron Zambrano, the lawyer for the three dancers, commented: “The striking attitude of Lizzo and her management team towards their artists seems to go against everything Lizzo represents publicly, while in private it weighs her dancers. and belittles them not only in illegal, but in highly demoralizing ways.” At the moment, the singer has not yet commented on the allegations.
Photo Credits: EPA/Jason Senes | Lizzo performing at the Nos Alive Festival in Oeiras, Portugal (July 7, 2023)
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