A judge has dismissed allegations of fat-shaming against pop star Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, that were part of a 2023 lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers. Lizzo stated publicly that there was no evidence she fired the dancers due to weight gain. She asserted that the dancers were dismissed for recording her without consent and sharing the footage with former employees.
Despite this partial dismissal, the lawsuit against Lizzo and her production company will proceed. It addresses claims of sexual harassment made by former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. These allegations contend that the dancers were pressured to attend sex shows and interact with nude performers between 2021 and 2023.
Specific incidents cited in court documents include an allegation that Lizzo pressured Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of a dancer in an Amsterdam nightclub. Ms. Davis reportedly complied, fearing negative repercussions for her position. The lawsuit also claims dancers were asked to consume fruit from the naked bodies of sex club workers.
Lizzo's legal team has previously characterized the lawsuit as a "fabricated sob story." Last year, a Los Angeles judge permitted the case to move forward regarding the sexual harassment claims. Lizzo's lawyers appealed this decision, arguing that group outings were part of the singer's creative process and should be protected under First Amendment free speech provisions. The dancers' lawyer, Ari Stiller, countered this argument, asserting that claiming inspiration for performances does not exempt actions from legal scrutiny. Stiller urged the court to allow the remaining claims to proceed to trial.