Lizzo Accusations: A Star in Trouble?
Lizzo Accusations: A Star in Trouble?
The Grammy-winning singer and rapper who has been celebrated for her body positivity and self-love messages, is facing a wave of backlash and legal troubles that could tarnish her image and career. The artist, who rose to fame with her viral hit “Truth Hurts” in 2019, has been accused of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, weight-shaming and more by three of her former dancers who filed a lawsuit against her on Tuesday.
The lawsuit, which also names Lizzo’s production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT) and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley as defendants, alleges that Lizzo subjected the dancers to several incidents of harassment and abuse between 2021 and 2023, while they were part of her tour.
What are the accusations?
Some of the allegations include:
- Pressuring one dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, and laughing at her when she reluctantly did so.
- Criticizing another dancer’s recent weight gain and later firing her for recording a meeting where Lizzo allegedly berated her.
- Subjecting the dancers to an “excruciating” 12-hour audition after falsely accusing them of drinking while working.
- Allowing Quigley to push her Christian beliefs on the dancers and denigrate those who had premarital sex, while also engaging in lewd sexual behavior and fantasies.
- Failing to address complaints of racial and religious discrimination by BGBT’s primarily white management team against the black dancers.
The lawsuit claims that Lizzo’s actions “go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing”. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for sexual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment, false imprisonment and interference with prospective economic advantage.
Lizzo response?
So, Lizzo has not yet responded to the lawsuit or the allegations. But she has been facing criticism from other sources as well. In June, she apologized and rereleased her song “Grrrls” after using an ableist slur that offended some members of the disability community. In August, she tearfully called out “fatphobic” and “racist” hate comments that she received following the release of her song “Rumors” with Cardi B. She also addressed accusations of playing into a “Mammy” stereotype, a racist caricature of a happy, heavyset black woman who worked in a subservient role to white people.
Lizzo has been praised for her empowering music and personality, but these controversies could damage her reputation and fan base. How will she handle these challenges and will she be able to overcome them? Only time will tell.
