Lizzo is getting some extra assist from a number of of her tour staffers amid her ongoing lawsuit drama!
As we beforehand reported, the 35-year-old singer was sued by three of her former dancers – Noelle Rodriguez, Crystal Williams, and Arianna Davis – in August for making a hostile work setting and sexual harassment. She vehemently denied the claims. Nevertheless, extra surprising allegations have dropped concerning the Reality Hurts artist since then. Different former staff publicly shared their assist for the three ladies suing Lizzo. Not solely that, one other former employee from her tour sued her for sexual harassment, racial harassment, and incapacity discrimination.
Associated: Lizzo Sued By One other Former Tour Staffer For Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Extra
Regardless of the accusations in opposition to Lizzo, not everyone seems to be in opposition to her proper now. A lot of her Huge Grrrl and Huge Boiii dancers have caught by her aspect all through her authorized troubles. They’ve publicly voiced their assist for Lizzo. They usually’re even serving to her out with the lawsuits now! Buckle up, there’s rather a lot right here!
In accordance with courtroom paperwork obtained by TMZ and Web page Six on Friday, 18 members of Lizzo’s touring firm wrote and signed declarations disputing the allegations made in opposition to her by Arianna, Crystal, and Noelle. Whoa. The dancers, choreographers, and musicians claimed they by no means noticed or skilled any racism, physique shaming, or different types of harassment once they had been on tour with Lizzo. They usually’re clapping again and giving their takes on the allegations made by the three ex-dancers!
As we beforehand reported, Arianna alleged within the go well with that Lizzo referred to as out her weight achieve – regardless of her beforehand telling administration she struggled with binge consuming, despair, and nervousness. However dancer Melissa Locke fired again on the accusation, saying:
“Having labored with Lizzo for years, it’s my private perception that Lizzo would by no means physique disgrace anybody, together with Davis, or touch upon her weight in a destructive and hurtful method.”
She wasn’t the one one to disclaim the physique shaming declare. Jayla Sullivan – a dancer and contestant onWatch Out for the Huge Grrrls – famous in her declaration she “by no means noticed” Lizzo shaming Ariana and even Crystal, including:
“Lizzo impressed all of us to have fun and love ourselves and our our bodies as we’re.”
In the meantime, Asia Banks identified she was the “greatest dancer on tour” and “Lizzo assembled a whole group of plus-size dancers to showcase our expertise and have fun us.” Alaini Walker started working with Lizzo after the three accusers had been fired and mentioned “There was completely no physique shaming on tour” in her expertise, including:
“I’ve skilled racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and physique shaming on this business, however by no means whereas working with Lizzo. In truth, Lizzo’s tour felt like the other of many destructive experiences I’ve had as a dancer.”
Bass participant Zuri Appleby claimed nobody fat-shamed Arianna – however everybody on the tour was “involved” about her “as a result of she was lax about her performances, her hygiene and her well being.” The musician insisted it wasn’t “as a result of she had gained weight.” As for the racism allegations from former stylist Asha Daniels in a separate lawsuit? Dancer Chawnta Van shut it down, stating Lizzo all the time helps and empowers Black ladies and “would by no means tolerate any racism on tour.”
Perezcious readers could recall one of many greatest bombshells to return out of the lawsuit was a few group outing at Bananenbar, an grownup leisure membership in Amsterdam. The previous dancers claimed Lizzo pressured and compelled them to take part in inappropriate and uncomfortable sexual acts, together with “touching nude performers, [catch] dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas and [eat] bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.”
Nevertheless, drummer Michel’le Baptiste had a unique recollection of the evening. She claimed to have seen Ariana on the bar and he or she allegedly “didn’t look uncomfortable,” noting:
“She was having a good time, identical to all of us had been.”
Hmm. Locke then recalled she spoke to Ariana and Noelle after the evening out and “they by no means mentioned they felt uncomfortable or pressured.” In truth, she alleged the 2 had been expressing about how a lot enjoyable that they had:
“They had been very captivated with what an amazing evening out that they had. I bear in mind telling them, ‘That feels like a lot enjoyable, I want you had woken me as much as go along with you.’ They agreed that it was a enjoyable evening and informed me that they went out within the Pink Mild District after. They didn’t complain or sound upset in any manner.”
And that’s not all…
Elsewhere within the declaration, staffers addressed an allegation from Noelle. She accused Lizzo of just about getting right into a bodily altercation together with her throughout a gathering. However dancer Kiara Mooring had been on the similar assembly and by no means witnessed the Grammy winner get “close to Rodriguez or in her face.” She defined:
“I’m accustomed to the allegation within the criticism that Rodriguez was in concern of being bodily attacked by Lizzo in the course of the Might 3, 2023 assembly when she resigned. I used to be at that assembly… Lizzo by no means obtained close to Rodriguez or in her face. Her voice obtained larger as a result of she was upset and felt that her belief was betrayed.”
Mooring continued:
“Once more, I believe she was justified in being upset. Though issues might have been dealt with extra calmly, I don’t imagine it ever would have escalated to a bodily altercation between Lizzo and Rodriguez.”
Assistant tour supervisor, Molly Gordon, even alleged Crystal didn’t resign. She was fired for her efficiency, tardiness, and price range restrictions. After getting the boot, she mentioned Crystal pleaded to nonetheless be on the highway with everybody.
Right now, neither of the dancers within the lawsuit have addressed these declarations from their former co-workers. However we’re curious to listen to what they need to say! The statements had been utilized in a movement filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket by Lizzo’s authorized group, and so they hope to dismiss the claims within the go well with. Whether or not that can occur is unknown proper now, so we’ll have to attend for what occurs subsequent on this case.
Ideas on the declarations? Tell us!
[Image via MEGA/WENN, Good Morning America/YouTube]
