Lizzo's Accusers Hit Back After Singer Breaks Silence—'Lack of Empathy'

Lizzo's former backing dancers have hit back at the singer and accused her of having a "lack of empathy," after she broke her silence on the sexual harassment lawsuit they filed against her this week.

Singer Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has been sued by three of her former dancers, who have accused the musician of sexually harassing them and creating a hostile work environment. There have also been allegations of religious and racial harassment, discrimination, false imprisonment, and body shaming.

On Thursday morning, Lizzo addressed the allegations that were leveled against her in a statement posted to Instagram. In her statement, Lizzo denied the claims, while also saying that they were "sensationalized stories [...] coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."

Elsewhere in her statement, the star added that "it's never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team."

Shortly after the post was shared on social media, Los Angeles attorney Ron Zambrano, who is representing plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, told Newsweek that Lizzo's statement has only served to "minimize the trauma she has caused."

"Lizzo has failed her own brand and has let down her fans," Zambrano told Newsweek. "Her denial of this reprehensible behavior only adds to our clients' emotional distress.

"The dismissive comments and utter lack of empathy are quite telling about her character and only serve to minimize the trauma she has caused the plaintiffs and other employees who have now come forward sharing their own negative experiences."

Zambrano, a partner and employment litigation chair at West Coast Employment Lawyers, added: "While Lizzo notes it was never her intention 'to make anyone feel uncomfortable,' that is exactly what she did to the point of demoralizing her dancers and flagrantly violating the law."

The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles and shared with Newsweek by the plaintiffs' law firm on Tuesday, alleges, among other things, that between 2021 and 2023 the complainants were "forced to endure sexually denigrating behavior" and "pressured into participating in disturbing sex shows."

While Lizzo has become known for celebrating body positivity, it was also claimed that she drew attention to the weight gain of one of the dancers, whom she is later said to have berated and fired.

"The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing," Zambrano said in a statement shared with Newsweek on Tuesday.

Hitting back at the numerous claims made in the lawsuit, Lizzo said in part of her statement on Thursday: "As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans.

"With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it's never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team."

"I am not here to be looked at as the victim," she went on. "But I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.

"There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight. I'm hurt but I will not let the good work I've done in the world be overshadowed by this."

Concluding her statement, Lizzo thanked "everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time."

Lizzo's production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. has also been accused of racial discrimination as Black members of the dance troupe were "treated differently" to other members of the team, the lawsuit alleges. The company was behind Lizzo's 2022 competition reality show Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls on Amazon Prime.

Two of the three dancers said they met Lizzo during the production of the reality show in March 2021.

Grammy winner Lizzo's dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, has been accused in the lawsuit of deriding those who had engaged in premarital sex, while also discussing her sex life with her husband.

The lawsuit names Lizzo, her production company and Quigley as defendants. Not all claims were brought against each of the defendants.

Newsweek reached out to representatives of Lizzo and Quigley via email for comment.

Update 08/03/23, 10:40 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.