“These previous few days have been intestine wrenchingly troublesome and overwhelmingly disappointing,” she mentioned.
“My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticised.
“Often I select not to answer false allegations however these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.
“These sensationalised tales are coming from former staff who’ve already publicly admitted that they had been instructed their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.
“As an artist I’ve all the time been very enthusiastic about what I do. I take my music and my performances severely as a result of on the finish of the day I solely need to put out one of the best artwork that represents me and my followers.
“With ardour comes laborious work and excessive requirements. Typically I’ve to make laborious selections but it surely’s by no means my intention to make anybody really feel uncomfortable or like they are not valued as an essential a part of the group.”
Lizzo went on to criticise her portrayal within the media in relation to the allegations and thanked individuals who had reached out in help.
“I’m not right here to be checked out as a sufferer, however I additionally know that I’m not the villain that individuals and the media have portrayed me to be these previous few days,” Lizzo mentioned.
“I’m very open with my sexuality and expressing myself however I can’t settle for or permit folks to make use of that openness to make me out to be one thing I’m not.
“There may be nothing I take extra severely than the respect we deserve as ladies on the planet.
“I do know what it feels prefer to be physique shamed each day and would completely by no means criticise or terminate an worker due to their weight
“I am damage however I can’t let the nice work I’ve accomplished on the planet be overshadowed by this.
“I need to thank everybody who has reached out in help to raise me up throughout this troublesome time.”
What the three dancers declare
The civil lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket claims Lizzo pressured the dancers to have interaction with nude performers at a membership in Amsterdam and shamed one in all them for her weight acquire earlier than firing her.
Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez make quite a few expenses together with sexual, spiritual and racial harassment, incapacity discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.
The authorized criticism seeks unspecified damages and names Melissa Viviane Jefferson, recognized professionally as Lizzo, her manufacturing firm Huge Grrrl Huge Touring, Inc, and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the performer’s dance group.
The courtroom submitting claims that after performing a live performance in Amsterdam, Lizzo and her crew attended a sexually themed present at a membership within the metropolis’s infamous Purple Mild District the place “Lizzo started inviting solid members to take turns touching the nude performers”. In the course of the present, Lizzo led a chant pressuring Davis to the touch the breasts of one of many nude ladies performing on the membership, the submitting states.
“Lastly, the refrain turned overwhelming, and a mortified Ms. Davis acquiesced in an try and carry an finish to the chants,” the criticism states. “Plaintiffs had been aghast with how little regard Lizzo confirmed for the bodily autonomy of her staff and people round her, particularly within the presence of many individuals whom she employed.”
Lizzo, who routinely champions physique positivity, can be accused of calling out Davis for her weight acquire after accusing the dancer of not being dedicated to her function. Davis was fired in Might for recording a gathering throughout which Lizzo had given out notes to dancers about their performances, based on the criticism.
Quigley, who served as a decide on the singer’s actuality present Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Huge Grrrls, is accused within the lawsuit of pushing her Christian beliefs onto dancers. The courtroom submitting claims Quigley referred to Davis as a “non-believer” and instructed co-workers that “No job and nobody will cease me from speaking concerning the Lord”.
Earlier this yr, Lizzo received the Grammy for document of the yr for her hit About Rattling Time. A world tour supporting her fourth studio album, 2022’s Particular, wrapped up final month.
– Reported with the Related Press
