By LawInspectsLizzo Lawsuit involves the popular American rapper and singer Melissa Viviane Jefferson, professionally known as Lizzo, Lizzo’s production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., Lizzo’s dance captain Shirlene Quigley, three former dancers in Lizzo’s group and a former stylist of Lizzo. There are two separate lawsuits against Lizzo and other defendants. One lawsuit accuses Lizzo and Quigley of sexual harassment, religious harassment, disability discrimination and assault during a tour in 2022-23. The second lawsuit alleges an environment of sexual harassment, racism and overwork during the tour.
First lawsuit against Lizzo, her production company and Shirlene Quigley was filed by three former dancers in Lizzo’s group, namely Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez. The second lawsuit against Lizzo was filed by her former stylist, Asha Daniels. Both the lawsuits essentially accuse Lizzo of sexual and other kinds of misconduct, and a hostile work environment during a tour in 2022-23.
Accusations in the lawsuit by Williams, Davis and Rodriguez
On August 2, 2023, Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez filed a lawsuit naming Melissa Viviane Jefferson aka Lizzo, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and Shirlene Quigley. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Williams, Davis and Rodriguez had worked in the capacity of dancers in Lizzo’s Special Tour, commencing from September 2022 and ending in July 2023.
In the lawsuit, the three dancers alleged that Lizzo and Quigley sexually harassed them, and exposed them to an overtly sexual atmosphere. Moreover, they claimed that Lizzo used to pressurize them to attend outings where nudity and sexuality were a focal point. As per claims made in the lawsuit by Williams, Davis and Rodriguez, in February 2023, after performing in Amsterdam, Lizzo took them and others to a nightclub called Bananenbar, located in the city’s red light district. At the club, Lizzo forced them and other employees to perform inappropriate acts like catching dildos ejected from performers’ vaginas. In another incident in March 2023, the lawsuit alleged, Lizzo took Williams, Davis and Rodriguez to a cabaret in Paris where the performers were nude. In addition, the three dancers also accused Lizzo of body shaming her dancers, including Arianna Davis.
The lawsuit alleged a case of sexual and religious harassment against Shirline Quigley, the dance captain of Lizzo’s 2022-23 tour. Williams, Davis and Rodriguez claimed that Quigley singled out Rodriguez for not being a Christian and subjected her to constant religious indoctrination. Furthermore, as per the suit, when Quigley learnt that Davis was a virgin, she not only discussed it with Davis but also made it public by mentioning the same on social media and talking about it in an interview.
Accusations in the lawsuit by Asha Daniels
On September 21, 2023, Asha Daniels, who worked as a stylist during Lizzo’s 2022-23 tour, filed a lawsuit against Lizzo, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., tour manager Carlina Gugliotta and wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
In her lawsuit, Asha Daniels alleged that she experienced a sexually charged unsafe workplace culture where misconduct was encouraged, while working in Lisso’s team. Daniels, who joined Lizzo’s tour in February 2023, claimed she was forced to work 20 hours without break by the wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura. She further alleged that while in Amsterdam, Nomura and other supervisors discussed multiple inappropriate things like hiring sex workers, buying hard drugs and attending sex shows, and pressured her to join. Daniels also alleged racial harassment against black dancers.
According to the lawsuit, Asha Daniels raised concerns over sexual and racial harassment but the same were ignored by the tour manager, Carlina Gugliotta. Instead, she was dismissed without notice or reason.
Proceedings in Court
In September 2023, Lizzo’s legal team moved a motion to have the lawsuit filed by Williams, Davis and Rodriguez dismissed under the California anti-SLAPP statute. Anti-SLAPP is a law designed to end meritless suits that threaten free speech. On February 2, 2024, a federal judge in Los Angeles, Mark H. Epstein, dismissed several allegations contained in the lawsuit, but allowed the remainder to proceed to trial. The judge ruled that all the allegations in the lawsuit didn’t fit anti-SLAPP statute.
In December 2023, Lizzo’s legal team moved a motion to have the lawsuit filed by Asha Daniels dismissed, and accused the stylist of abandoning her job. On December 6, 2024, a Los Angeles federal judge dismissed all the allegations against Lizzo, Gugliotta and Nomura, but Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. remains a defendant in the case.