Lizzo is being sued by three of her former dancers for alleged harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
Lizzo, whose legal name is Melissa Vivian Jefferson, as well as her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT) was filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Shirlyn Quigley, captain of Lizzo’s dance team, is also named in the complaint.
Dancers Ariana Davis, Crystal Williams and Noel Rodriguez allege “sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment,” according to a press release about the lawsuit from plaintiffs’ attorney Ron Zambrano.
Zambrano said, “The surprising nature of the way Lizzo and her management team treat their performers goes against everything Lizzo has said publicly, while in private she disrespects her dancers and Humiliates them in ways that are not only illegal, but downright demoralizing.”
The complaint alleges that Lizzo pressured his dancers into doing nude photo shoots during Lizzo’s “Watch Out for the Big Grrls” dance competition show.
The complaint alleges that Lizzo pressured his dancers into doing nude photo shoots during Lizzo’s “Watch Out for the Big Grrls” dance competition show. Amazon Prime, as well as participating in nude performances and touching nude performers in clubs in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
The dancers also say that Lizzo “tricked” them into going to the cabaret bar naked, claiming that he concealed details about the event they were attending.
The plaintiffs also accused BGBT management of discriminating against black members of the dance team, both in pay and treatment.
According to the press release, the dancers also accused Quigley of preaching Christianity and being against premarital sex in the workplace, “while sharing her masturbation habits and sex life with her husband.” He is also accused of broadcasting a dancer’s virginity in the workplace as well as in interviews and on social media.
Davis and Williams say they were fired, while Rodriguez resigned over the alleged workplace climate.
When Rodriguez resigned, she said, “Lizzo aggressively approached Ms. Rodriguez, snapping her fingers, clenching her fists” and “feared that Lizzo intended to kill her and that if one of the other dancers did She would have done so had she not intervened.”
The “Truth Hurts” pop star is known for her body-positive activism and upbeat pop music about self-love.
Representatives for Lizzo, BGBT and Quigley have not yet responded to travelhotelnews.com‘ requests for comment.