Lizzo Says She Was ‘Blindsided’ by Former Dancers’ Lawsuit
Lizzo brought light to her lawsuit scandal on the newest episode of Keke Palmer-hosted podcast “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer.”
Last August, the “Pink” singer was sued by three of her ex-dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, for sexual harassment, racial harassment, and breeding a hostile work environment, claiming that their working circumstances were "intolerable" because of harassment that was "so severe or pervasive.”
The following month, Lizzo was sued by her former stylist, Asha Daniels, for bullying, harassment, and racial discrimination. While Daniels is still pursuing legal action against Lizzo’s Big Grrrl Touring Inc. and her payroll company, the 4-time Grammy winner has been dismissed as a defendant in the harassment suit. She’s now free to tell her side of the story on “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer,” which went live on Thursday, December 19.
Around the 4-minute mark of the video below, Lizzo, real name Melissa Jefferson, told Palmer that she was “blindsided” by the claims of her former dancers. “I was literally living in my dream, and then the [Special] tour ended, and three ex-dancers just completely, like, blindsided me with a lawsuit,” she said.
The singer added, “I was very deeply hurt because these were three ex-dancers, so they weren’t on the tour. They didn’t finish the tour out with us. But even regardless of that, these were people that I gave opportunities to.”
Lizzo said she “liked and appreciated them as dancers” and even “respected them,” but was shocked by their allegations. “So I was like, ‘What?’ But then I heard all the other things like sexual harassment, and I was like, They’re trying, well, I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but these are the types of things that the media can turn into something that it’s not,’” she continued.
The 36-year-old ended up planning to set better intentions in the workplace. “I used to be like, ‘Why it's like that? It don't gotta be like that. We can all be family, and hang out and have a good time.’ But now I see why,” she said. “And I think this experience taught me how to set those kinds of boundaries, not just to protect them, but to protect myself.”
“Let's be clear, I did nothing wrong,” Lizzo continued. “So I have no regrets, but I do have now this learned experience that is preparing me for the boss that I am becoming. This experience hasn't stopped me from being me, and I think it could have easily done that … I wasn't even playing the role of the hero, so why would I start playing the role of a villain? I'm just me and I'm gonna continue to be me.”
The singer would later share that she plans to dismiss all the claims, seemingly alleging that the lawsuit was an extortion attempt. “I still believe women. I still believe victims because this happened to me, it's not going to change that," she told Palmer. "But people should not be able to just say anything about somebody, and put it in the media, and ask for money. You shouldn't be able to do those things. So I'm fighting.”