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Lizzo wins partial legal victory as judge drops weight-based allegations
Pop star Lizzo secured a legal win on Tuesday after a Los Angeles judge dismissed claims that she fired three former dancers for gaining weight. The ruling leaves intact broader allegations of sexual harassment against the singer and her production company.
Case background and dismissed claims
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, initially included accusations that Lizzo terminated their contracts due to body size. Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, denied the allegations in a video statement posted across her social media platforms.
"There was no evidence that I fired them because they gained weight. They were fired for taking a private recording of me without my consent and sending it to former employees," she said.
The dismissed claims had weighed heavily on the Grammy-winning artist, who described them as "haunting" and "devastating" over the past two years. Lizzo emphasized her long-standing advocacy for body positivity, noting her support for individuals with larger bodies and her efforts to amplify their voices.
Ongoing sexual harassment allegations
While the weight-related accusations were thrown out, the lawsuit will proceed over claims that the dancers were subjected to sexual harassment during their tenure from 2021 to 2023. Court documents allege that Lizzo pressured Davis to touch a nude performer's breasts at an Amsterdam nightclub, despite her initial resistance. Davis reportedly complied out of fear for her career prospects with the tour.
Additional allegations include demands that dancers consume fruit from the naked bodies of sex club workers during group outings. The plaintiffs argue these experiences were not voluntary but rather coerced as part of their employment.
Legal arguments and next steps
Lizzo's legal team has consistently denied the allegations, labeling the lawsuit a "fabricated sob story." Her attorney, Melissa Glass, stated that 18 witnesses from the singer's Special tour submitted sworn statements refuting the dancers' claims. Glass also noted the plaintiffs have failed to produce corroborating evidence.
"As was true two years ago, the dancers cannot find a single person to corroborate their meritless claims," Glass told Billboard.
Over the summer, Lizzo's lawyers appealed to block the harassment claims from advancing to trial, arguing that the outings were part of her creative process and thus protected under First Amendment free speech rights. The dancers' attorney, Ari Stiller, countered this argument, writing in a court filing that such protections should not extend to alleged misconduct.
"Under that standard, Johnny Cash could shoot 'a man in Reno just to watch him die' and claim protection if he hoped it would inspire his performance," Stiller wrote.
Lizzo has vowed to continue fighting the remaining allegations. In her recent statement, she declared, "I am not settling. I will be fighting every single claim until the truth is out."
Broader context
Lizzo, known for hits like Good As Hell and Juice, has been a prominent advocate for body positivity and self-acceptance. The ongoing lawsuit has drawn attention to workplace dynamics in the entertainment industry, particularly regarding power imbalances between high-profile artists and their support teams.
