Lizzo sued by former tour dancers for sexual harassment, creating toxic work environment

Three of Lizzo's former stage dancers filed a complaint against the pop musician on Tuesday, August 1. They alleged that the four-time Grammy Award winner sexually harassed them. They also claimed that she created a toxic work environment. Additionally, the dancers claimed that she falsely accused them of drinking at work and forced one of them to touch a naked performer in a club in Amsterdam. 

2 things you need to know 

• The dancers' names are Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez. 
• They worked for Lizzo’s touring company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. 

Lizzo accused of sexual harassment 

The complaint alleges that Lizzo forced the dancers to attend a sex performance in Amsterdam's renowned Red Light District and then compelled them to interact with the performers. The lawsuit claims “Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ v**inas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ genitals. Lizzo then turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women performing at the club.”

Lizzo is not the only defendant listed by name. The women also accused Shirlene Quigley, her dance captain, of misdemeanours.  Hostile work environment, sexual harassment, religious harassment, racial harassment, handicap discrimination, and failure to prevent or address the harassment are among the claims for all damages. 

(The complaint alleges that Lizzo forced the dancers to attend a sex performance in Amsterdam | Image: Instagram)

What are the other charges? 

Lizzo is explicitly charged with failing to prohibit sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and discriminating against people with disabilities. According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez quit earlier this year after Davis and Williams were dismissed from their jobs. Davis was let go in May for recording a meeting in which Lizzo made comments about dancers and  their performances. 

Williams, on the other hand, claims that she was publicly let go as a result of budget cuts. The lawsuit , however, notes that nobody else was let go that day. Rodriguez allegedly complained to the management about Lizzo "repeatedly" using intimidation tactics with dancers by publicly firing them. The dismissals of Davis and Willaims led to Rodriguez's resignation.