Former Touring Dancers Accuse Lizzo of Sexual Harassment

Three former Lizzo traveling dancers have filed a sexual harassment and hostile work environment complaint against the musician.

Lizzo is also accused of body shaming these dancers, according to the lawsuit. Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has been a vocal supporter of the body-positive movement, so these charges are particularly startling. The lawsuit also names Shirlene Quigley and Lizzo’s production firm as defendants. The complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles.

In addition to a hostile work environment and sexual harassment, the action claims that Lizzo established an environment of religious and racial discrimination, false imprisonment, interference with prospective economic advantage, and other claims. However, not every defendant in the claim is facing all of these charges.

One claim in the lawsuit is that Lizzo brought up a dancer’s weight after a SXSW performance. The dancer recalls Lizzo telling her she was “less committed” to her part than the others, which the lawsuit claims is a thinly veiled statement on Davis’ weight.

Another allegation includes a non-mandatory afterparty at an Amsterdam strip club, but the lawsuit claims those who attended were favored by the singer and had higher job security than those who did not attend. During this party, Lizzo allegedly “invited cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas launched from performers’ vaginas.”

“Lizzo then turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women,” according to a lawsuit acquired by NBC News. Davis apparently declined, prompting Lizzo to lead a chorus to get Davis to undertake the action.

“Plaintiffs were astounded by Lizzo’s disregard for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, particularly in the presence of a large number of people whom she employed,” the lawsuit says.

Dancers were urged to be reimbursed for downtime at half their weekly pay. However, one accountant responded by providing them 25% and chastising them for being “disrespectful” in their request. “Only the dance cast—comprised of full-figured women of color—were ever spoken to in this manner,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges religious harassment against Quigley, who is accused of proselytizing her Christian beliefs to everybody and everyone. According to the lawsuit, she “took every opportunity to proselytize to any and all in her presence, regardless of protestations.”

The lawsuit was brought by two of the dancers in April and May of 2023. They claim they were fired after speaking out about Lizzo’s behavior and comments and were informed their dismissal was due to budget cuts—despite the fact that no one else was fired.

Former Touring Dancers Accuse Lizzo of Sexual Harassment

Three former Lizzo traveling dancers have filed a sexual harassment and hostile work environment complaint against the musician.

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