Photo: Instagram.com/lizzobeeating
“I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be.”
After two days of viral reporting, Lizzo has finally broken her silence on social media with a series of four-image statements and a lengthy Instagram post addressing the lawsuit she is currently facing for alleged sexual harassment of past employees, and for creating a toxic work environment among her team of dancers. Since the lawsuit was announced this Tuesday, the musician has sparked media attention and even been omitted by Beyoncé in “Break My Soul (Queen’s Remix)” tribute to Black artists in her ‘Renaissance’ concert.
Lizzo, her production company “Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc,” and her dance captain, Shirlene Quigley are being sued by three former dancers. Brianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez are suing for sexual, religious, racial, and ableist discrimination.
In her statement, Lizzo addresses the afterparty incident in Amsterdam, where it was claimed that she pressured the cast, including Brianna Davis, to touch nude performers. She firmly states, “Inviting your employees to a strip club is not sexual assault (and is damaging to use this term so freely).”
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) August 3, 2023
She further counters the claims as “sensationalized stories,” and inserts that the “former employees have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Lizzo also asserts, “questioning someone’s dedication to their work does not automatically mean body shaming,” and that “secretly recording confidential sessions with your employer is a sackable offence.” Lizzo then addresses accusations of weight shaming, emphasizing, “I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”
The upcoming Emmy-nominee ends her statement on Instagram wishing “both sides of the story are properly acknowledged before people make such solid verdicts.” However, it is crucial to note that her response does not address certain aspects, such as the alleged 12-hour audition/rehearsal, nude photoshoot, or the religious discrimination from her dance captain Shirlene Quigley.
Read more about the lawsuit here: Lizzo is Being Sued By Ex-Dancers for Alleged Sexual Harassment and Creating a Toxic Work Environment
