Pop star Lizzo has shocked fans by announcing that she is quitting music, months after denying allegations of sexual harassment and bullying from former members of her dance troupe.
On Friday (29 March), the multi-award-winning artist shared her intention to retire from the industry in a social media post.
“I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views… being the butt of every joke every single time because of how I look… my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name,” her statement on Instagram read.
Last year, former members of her dance troupe filed claims of sexual harassment and weight-shaming by Lizzo (born Melissa Jefferson) in a 44-page lawsuit.
In the suit, dancers Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez, and Crystal Williams detail allegations of assault, inappropriate sexual behaviour, workplace misconduct, disability discrimination, and religious harassment against Lizzo and her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc (BGBT).
Lizzo previously hit back at the “false allegations” in a statement posted to her social media platforms, adding that the claims are “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed”.
In February, an LA judge denied Lizzo’s request to have the lawsuit dismissed, despite dismissing certain accusations.
Here are all the accusations Davis, Rodriguez, and Williams have made against the “Rumors” hitmaker:
What are the allegations against Lizzo?
The plaintiffs have accused Lizzo of assault, disability discrimination, and sexual harassment in the lawsuit seen by The Independent.
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They have questioned the way they were terminated from Lizzo’s production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. In the filed complaint, the dancers accused Lizzo of calling attention to Davis’ weight gain and later berating and then firing her “on the spot” after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition.
When Rodriguez objected to Lizzo’s treatment of Davis, and resigned from the cast, Lizzo allegedly “aggressively approached” Rodriquez, who said she thought the 35-year-old would have hit her if one of the other dancers hadn’t intervened.
The accusers have testified to the “sexually charged and uncomfortable environment” they were allegedly forced to endure while working with Lizzo and her dance captain and co-defendant Quigley.
It is claimed Lizzo “began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas” during a visit to a strip club in Amsterdam.
She allegedly pressured Davis “touch the breasts [of] one of the nude women” by “leading a chant goading” her.
“Finally, the chorus became overwhelming, and a mortified Ms Davis acquiesced in an attempt to bring an end to the chants,” the 44-page lawsuit states.
Lizzo allegedly “badgered” a member of her security team to get on stage where “his pants were pulled down”.
“Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed,” the lawsuit reads.
It is alleged the dancers underwent a “brutal” re-audition after Lizzo became convinced the cast had been drinking before…
This article was originally published by a www.independent.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .