Three former dancers have filed a lawsuit against Lizzo, alleging a hostile work environment and harassment during their time as members of the Grammy-winning artist’s dance team.
The complaint, obtained by CNN through an attorney for the plaintiffs, was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and also includes Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT), and a person referred to as the “dance cast captain” as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, one of the plaintiffs claims that during a tour in February, Lizzo encouraged her to participate in inappropriate activities, such as “taking turns touching the nude performers” at a club in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The plaintiffs also alleged that one month later, Lizzo deceived them by taking them to another nude show, thereby removing their choice not to participate, according to the documents. The women are now seeking general and special damages, as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, made a statement expressing his disbelief at how Lizzo and her management team treated the performers. He highlighted the stark contrast between Lizzo’s public image and the alleged private behavior of weight-shaming and demeaning the dancers in ways that are utterly demoralizing.
Ron Zambrano said in a statement. “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are … absolutely demoralizing.”
As of now, Lizzo has not addressed the lawsuit publicly, and her representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
Meet the 3 women taking legal action against Lizzo for sexual harassment
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the singer’s three former backup dancers:
Noelle Rodriguez
Rodriguez, a native of Texas, caught Lizzo’s attention and was hired after her impressive performance in the “Rumors” music video. Prior to this, she had already made appearances in a SKIMS campaign and danced in the first season of “Euphoria.” However, she decided to resign from Lizzo’s tour shortly after Davis was fired due to the alleged disrespect shown by Lizzo.
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez also expressed fear that Lizzo could have physically harmed her and credited another dancer for intervening and preventing any potential altercation.
Before joining Lizzo’s tour, Rodriguez showcased her talent alongside Beyoncé at Coachella in 2018 and danced for Janet Jackson during her Billboard Music Awards Icon performance the same year.
In May 2023, she posted a cryptic message on her Instagram, featuring a quote from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The quote emphasized her willingness to become an example of dedication, courage, and persistence under challenging circumstances, while also standing against any form of nonsense or mistreatment.
Arianna Davis
Davis, hailing from Indiana, discovered her passion for dancing at the tender age of two, as reported by IndyStar. She described dance as a means of expression when words fall short, stating, “When you can’t sing it, you can’t say it, you can’t act it out. You can’t do anything except physically move to express yourself. When I have no words, I just dance.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis started sharing dancing videos on TikTok, which caught Lizzo’s attention. This led to her appearance in the singer’s reality show, “Watch Out For The Big Grrrls,” which followed Lizzo’s quest to find backup dancers for her tour. The show’s success was rewarded with an Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program in 2022, and Davis had the honor of attending the ceremony alongside her role model, Lizzo.
However, according to the lawsuit, Davis alleges that Lizzo “pressured” and “goaded” her into touching a nude performer’s breasts during a visit to a sex club in Amsterdam in February 2023.
Additionally, the suit includes a distressing incident where Davis claims she was forced to “soil herself” on stage during an “excruciating” re-audition for the renowned dance group. She feared the potential consequences of taking a bathroom break and felt compelled to endure the situation.
Furthermore, the “Truth Hurts” singer reportedly terminated Davis’ employment on the spot after discovering that she had used a recording device to obtain a copy of the notes provided during one of their meetings.
Crystal Williams
Williams, also hailing from Texas, made her appearance on Lizzo’s reality show, “Watch Out For The Big Grrrls.”
Having graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2020 with a degree in mass communication, Williams came across a casting call for Lizzo’s show shortly after. Seeing it as a potential sign, she put together an impressive video submission, showcasing her mass comm skills with a well-crafted montage. Her efforts paid off, and she secured a spot on the Emmy-winning TV series, bypassing the regular audition process.
Dancing for the pop star became an exhilarating journey for Williams, allowing her to explore various places around the world, a far cry from being limited to Texas alone. In an interview published in February 2023, Williams expressed her joy and gratitude for the incredible experience, considering it a true blessing to be a part of something she never imagined possible for someone like her.
However, in May 2023, Williams announced through a social media post that she was no longer touring with Lizzo.