Legal Developments in Lizzo Lawsuit
Pop artist Lizzo has achieved a partial legal victory following a judge's dismissal of fat-shaming allegations from a 2023 lawsuit initiated by three former dancers. Lizzo stated via social media that there was no evidence she terminated the dancers due to weight gain. She attributed their dismissal to their unauthorized recording of her and sharing it with former employees.
Sexual Harassment Claims Proceed
Despite this dismissal, the lawsuit against Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, and her production company is proceeding on claims of sexual harassment. The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, allege they were pressured into attending sex shows and interacting with nude performers between 2021 and 2023.
Specific claims detailed in court documents include allegations that Lizzo pressured Ms. Davis to touch a dancer's breasts at an Amsterdam nightclub, which Ms. Davis reportedly did out of concern for her position on the team. Other incidents cited include requests for dancers to consume fruit from the naked bodies of sex club workers.
Legal Arguments and Appeals
Lizzo's legal team has previously characterized the lawsuit as a "fabricated sob story." Over the summer, Lizzo's lawyers appealed a decision allowing these claims to proceed to trial, arguing that group outings were part of the singer's creative process and thus should be shielded by First Amendment free speech protections. In response, Ari Stiller, a lawyer for the dancers, rejected this argument, stating that inspiration alone does not grant protection for alleged misconduct and urged the court to allow the claims to reach trial.