Pop star Lizzo is celebrating a legal victory after a judge dismissed allegations of fat-shaming from a 2023 lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers.
The singer, known for her body positivity anthems like 'Good As Hell' and 'Juice', shared her excitement through a video statement on Instagram and TikTok. In her statement, she contended, There was no evidence that I fired them because they gained weight; they were dismissed for taking a private recording of me without consent and sending it to ex-employees.
While the fat-shaming allegations were dropped, the lawsuit against Lizzo and her production company proceeds, focusing on claims of sexual harassment from dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. They assert they were pressured into attending sexual performances and interacting with nude performers during their time working with Lizzo.
Specific allegations include claims that Lizzo pressured Davis to touch a dancer's breasts at a nightclub in Amsterdam, and that dancers were encouraged to eat fruit from the bodies of sex club workers.
In the summer, Lizzo's legal team challenged the validity of the claims, suggesting that these outings were integral to her creative process and thus protected under First Amendment rights. However, the dancers’ lawyer argued this justification was insufficient, suggesting it trivializes the alleged misconduct.
The court’s decision to allow the harassment claims to proceed led Lizzo's attorney to brand the accusations as unfounded. However, 18 witnesses were reported to have refuted the dancers' claims and supported Lizzo’s case.
Lizzo has consistently denied the accusations against her, calling them an attack on her character and reinforcing her commitment to advocate for body positivity. She stated, I am not settling... I will be fighting every single claim until the truth is out. Lizzo expressed that the fat-shaming claims had haunted her for two years, denouncing the emotional toll of these allegations.
In light of the recent developments, Lizzo's legal battles remain a central topic among fans and the media, further highlighting the intersection of celebrity culture, body image, and workplace conduct.
