Asha Daniels, a clothing designer formerly of Lizzo, last week sued the singer and members of her team for, among other things, alleged racial and sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
Now, Daniels is speaking out in an exclusive network news release, saying she was inspired to tell her own story after three of Lizzo’s former dancers came forward with similar allegations in a lawsuit filed last month.
“I was very proud of them,” Daniels told ABC News.
“I want a world where black women can come and show their talent at the peak of their careers without suffering these abuses, without being silenced and without being treated unfairly,” Daniels said.
Daniels’ interview is included in a new episode of “Impact x Nightline,” which explores the backlash against Lizzo and how she and other celebrities are responding to and dealing with allegations of bad behavior that threaten to tarnish their public image. Another example is the recent criticism Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis received after they wrote characterful letters of support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, with whom they both co-starred on That ’70s Show. The couple apologized in a video message on Instagram.
Good Morning America host Janay Norman also spoke with three former dancers who were the first to file a lawsuit against the superstar – Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez.
“People in fandom and people on the internet want accountability. And if they don’t see it, they’ll keep you in your space until you show it or you get canceled completely,” crisis communications expert Molly McPherson told ABC News.
Lizzo and her lawyer Marty Singer declined to be interviewed by ABC News, but Lizzo has previously denied all of the former employees’ claims in statements through her lawyer, a representative and in a statement posted on social media. She also announced plans to file a countersuit against some of her accusers.
Daniels says she was initially excited about the opportunity to create costumes for Lizzo and her dancers, but claims things started to go south in the first few days of the job. While Daniels says she never spoke directly with Lizzo, she says she spent a lot of time with her manager Amanda Nomura, who is named in the lawsuit along with the singer.
Daniels claims she was injured at work when Nomura pushed her into a clothes rack and claims Nomura prevented her from seeking medical attention, the suit says.
“She rolls over my leg with this very heavy stance. And so I wince and say, “Wait, my leg really hurts.” Like, I need to stop. I need to sit down. And so she pushes me onto the counter and says, ‘Don’t make excuses, like, take this counter,'” Daniels told ABC News.
Daniels says she was “stunned” by the incident, which she believes was racially motivated. According to Daniels’ lawsuit, Norman called the black women’s tour “stupid,” “useless” and “fat.” Daniels claims that she witnessed Nomura even bully Lizzo herself.
Nomura did not respond to requests for comment.
Daniels also alleges that in a group chat among production company team members, an employee posted a photo depicting male genitalia into the chat and says some executives found the image “comical,” according to the complaint.
After she said she told a manager about the alleged problems, Daniels said she was fired “without notice or cause,” according to the lawsuit. She is seeking a jury trial, seeking damages such as unpaid wages, loss of earnings and deferred compensation.
The lawsuit was filed the same day Lizzo received the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award from the Black Music Action Coalition. At the awards ceremony, some of her dancers introduced her and spoke about her positive influence on them.
In a statement, Lizzo’s representative Stefan Friedman told ABC News: “Tonight, Lizzo receives a Humanitarian Award for the incredible philanthropic work she has done to uplift all people, and an ambulance-chasing lawyer tries to tarnish that honor by hiring someone to file a claim. a bogus, absurd lawsuit aimed at publicity stunt who, wait for it, has never actually met or even spoken to Lizzo.”
“We will give this as much attention as it deserves. None,” he continued.
Daniels says her lawsuit names Lizzo because she is the person responsible – something Daniels says she knows firsthand as a business owner.
“I can say that in my life I am responsible for the people who work for me and on my projects, and I think everyone is responsible,” Daniels told ABC News.
Like Daniels, the three former dancers also allege that Lizzo and her management created a “sexually charged environment” that made some dance troupe members feel uncomfortable, the dancers’ lawsuit states. In one case, they say they felt pressured to touch naked performers at a club in Amsterdam.
After the allegations came to light, Lizzo released a statement on Instagram that said, in part: “I am not here to be viewed as a victim, but I also know that I am not a villain… I am very open. in your sexuality. and express myself, but I can’t accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I’m not.”
In an interview with ABC News, Davis called the statement “inappropriate” and “tone-deaf.” Rodriguez told ABC News that Lizzo should be “pretty black and white” about not taking her employees to “sexually charged” events.
In a statement, Lizzo’s lawyer said: “The glaring inconsistencies between what the three plaintiffs allege in their false claim and what is actually proven by the facts and evidence will be established at trial, and we are confident that Lizzo will prevail.” . dignity.
Check out Impact x Nightline’s “Lizzo’s Legal Limbo,” streaming now on Hulu.
ABC News’ Candace Smith, Elizabeth Mendez, Ashley Riegle and Nicole Mastrangelo contributed to this report.