Singer Lizzo
| Picture Credit score: Brendan McDermid
Rapper Lizzo has refuted the sexual harassment allegations levelled in opposition to her by her former dancers. Three of Lizzo’s former dancers not too long ago filed a lawsuit filed in opposition to her, claiming she pushed them to attend a intercourse present in Amsterdam’s famed Purple Gentle District after which pressured them to interact with the performers, Selection reported.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket in opposition to Lizzo (actual title Melissa Viviane Jefferson), her manufacturing firm Massive Grrrl Massive Touring, Inc. (BGBT), and Shirlene Quigley, captain of Lizzo’s dance workforce. The dancers alleged sexual, spiritual and racial harassment, incapacity discrimination, assault and false imprisonment, amongst a slew of different costs.
Plaintiffs additionally alleged Lizzo once more invited them out with out telling them they might be attending a nude cabaret bar — “robbing them of the selection to not take part,” the lawsuit acknowledged. Reacting to such claims, Lizzo issued an official assertion during which she denied the allegations.
“These previous few days have been gut-wrenchingly tough and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” Lizzo wrote. She added, “Normally I select not to reply to false allegations however these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. These sensationalized tales are coming from former staff who’ve already publicly admitted that they have been instructed their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
She continued, “As an artist, I’ve at all times been very captivated with what I do. I take my music and my performances critically as a result of, on the finish of the day, I solely wish to put out the most effective artwork that represents me and my followers. With ardour comes exhausting work and excessive requirements. Typically I’ve to make exhausting selections however it’s by no means been my intention to make anybody really feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an necessary a part of the workforce.”
Lizzo ended her assertion by saying that although she doesn’t wish to be perceived as a sufferer within the state of affairs, she is “not the villain.”
“I’m not right here to be checked out as a sufferer, however I additionally know that I’m not the villain that folks and the media have portrayed me to be these previous few days. I’m very open with my sexuality and expressing myself however I can not settle for or permit individuals to make use of that openness to make me out to be one thing I’m not,” she wrote. “There may be nothing I take extra critically than the respect we deserve as girls on this planet. I do know what it feels wish to be physique shamed every day and would completely by no means criticize or terminate an worker due to their weight. I’m harm however I cannot let the great work I’ve completed on this planet be overshadowed by this. I wish to thank everybody who has reached out in assist to raise me up throughout this tough time.”