Three former dancers for Lizzo, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, have sued the singer for alleged sexual harassment, body-shaming and creating a hostile work environment.

A lawsuit filed against the songstress on Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court. “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 not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing,”  Ron Zambrano, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

Who is Arianna Davis?

One of the allegations – and perhaps the most damaging one for Lizzo, being the icon of body-positivity that she is – states that Lizzo called attention to a dancer’s weight after an appearance at South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.

The dancer, identified as Arianna Davis, was told that she seemed “less committed” to her role. The comment, at the time, was understood to be a “thinly veiled” concern about Davis’ weight.

Also Read | Lizzo sued: Singer allegedly body-shamed, sexually harassed ex-dancers, created hostile work environment

Davis began performing with Lizzo after competing on her Amazon reality show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, in 2021. She was later fired.

In another instance at the Amsterdam strip club, Bananenbar, Lizzo allegedly “began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas,” the suit says. “Lizzo then turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women.”

After Davis declined to do so, Lizzo allegedly led a chant coaxing her to do so. However, after Davis continued to refuse, the chant “grew louder and more strident, demanding a visibly uncomfortable Ms. Davis to engage with the performer.” Feeling pressured, Davis eventually agreed and briefly touched the performer. As she did, the group burst into laughter.

The suit also alleges that Lizzo’s team captain, Shirlene Quigley proselytized to other performers and derided those who had premarital sex. After finding out that Davis was a virgin, she discussed the subject in interviews and posted about it on social media, the suit said.

The opposite happened with Noelle Rodriguez, who was considered a “non-believer” by Quigley and was continually pressured to accept Christianity. Quigley allegedly declared: “No job and no one will stop me from talking about the Lord.”

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On April 27, Davis recorded a team meeting because she suffered from an eye condition that left her disoriented in stressful situations, according to the suit. A few days later Lizzo had an emergency meeting where the security confiscated dancers’ phones. “Lizzo became furious, hurling expletives at the group and stated that she was going to go around the room, person-by-person until someone told Lizzo who made the recording,” the suit says.

Davis owned up to recording the previous meeting, saying that she meant no harm and had consequently deleted the recording. Lizzo allegedly responded: “There is nothing you can say to make me believe you.”

“Ms. Quigley and Lizzo then took turns berating Ms. Davis,” the suit says. “After castigating Ms. Davis, Lizzo fire Ms. Davis on the spot.”

Who is Noelle Rodriguez?

Noelle Rodriguez was hired by Lizzo in 2021 after performing in the video, Rumors. Rodriguez resigned earlier this year. 

Rodriguez took offense with how Davis was treated in the emergency meeting for recording another meeting. She told the singer that she felt disrespected and would resign. Lizzo allegedly responded by “cracking her knuckles, balling her fists” and using an expletive to tell Rodriguez she was “lucky,” the suit states.

Rodriguez left as Lizzo raised both her middle fingers and yelled a slur.

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Earlier, Rodriguez also had opposed to fellow dancer, Crystal Williams getting fired.

Who is Crystal Williams?

Crystal Williams was hired along with Davis. Williams reportedly lost her job on April 26, days after she spoke up at a meeting against Lizzo who accused the dancers of drinking before performances.

Lizzo allegedly subjected her dance group to an an “excruciating” 12-hour rehearsal and if she was dissatisfied with their performances, the suit alleges, the dancers would be fired. The same issue of drinking was raised by Lizzo the following day.

 That time, Williams spoke up saying that the dancers didn’t drink. The singer then allegedly replied mockingly: “Well if you’re not, then good for y’all.” Five days later, Lizzo’s tour manager fired Williams in a hotel lobby. The decision was explained up as part of budget cuts. Meanwhile, no one else was fired.