After being accused of sexual harassment by three former backup dancers, Lizzo announced plans to counter-sue them.
According to the Daily Mail, Lizzo plans to counter-sue the former backup dancers, Crystal Williams (24), Noelle Rodriguesz (25), and Arianna Davis (26), who accused her of sexual harassment.
These dancers, who used to accompany Lizzo on tour, recently filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lizzo, her production company “Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc,” and dance team leader Shirlene Quigley, alleging sexual harassment, religious and racial harassment, discrimination based on disability, and assault.
The dancers claimed that Lizzo touched the bodies of female strippers at a club in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and subjected them to bizarre and perverse sexual acts, even pressuring security personnel to get on stage and shout “strip.”
Despite expressing their refusal multiple times, the dancers alleged that Lizzo forced them to touch the bodies of female strippers and sexually assaulted Davisz
Lizzo vehemently denied these allegations. The Daily Mail obtained and published related photos, depicting the dancers posing happily with strippers behind the cabaret stage in Paris on March 5th.
The dancers claimed that Lizzo harassed them in February, and the photos were taken just a few weeks after that. Lizzo’s lawyer, Marty Singer, emphasized that “the dancers were having a good time and enjoying themselves backstage” in an interview with the Daily Mail.
The lawyer explained, “In the lawsuit, the three plaintiffs claim they were forced to attend the Crazy Horse performance against their will on March 5th. In fact, they went backstage with other dancers after seeing the strip dance show.”
Public photos and videos show the dancers, including the three suing Lizzo, wearing glamorous wigs and dancing happily with strippers behind the stage.
Lizzo’s side also submitted an audition tape released by plaintiff Arianna Davis on April 5th.
In the tape, Davis expressed her surprise and pleasure in working with Lizzo as a singer during an audition.
However, Lizzo’s lawyer pointed out that the dancers’ actions and claims contradict each other, “It’s completely inconsistent with the truth.”
Furthermore, the lawyer added, “They joined Lizzo’s dance team even after the alleged incidents took place. If they had experienced such terrible acts as they claim in the lawsuit, why would they decide to sign additional contracts?”
Recently, it was reported that Lizzo was excluded from consideration as a halftime show candidate for the Super Bowl due to the dancers’ lawsuit.
Lizzo stated that she considers the dancers’ claims to be “unbelievable and nonsensical.”
Lizzo’s dance team, Big Grrrl & Big Boiii, posted a joint statement on Instagram supporting Lizzo.
They emphasized, “We had the best time of our lives on the tour. It was an honor to share the stage with Lizzo. This tour experience was more than just a special moment.”
Source: Insight.
