By now, we all know the feeling of dread that accompanies the news that your favourite celebrity might be problematic. For Lizzo fans, that feared moment came this week. Three ex-dancers for the “About Damn Time” singer sued her for alleged sexual harassment and creating a harmful work environment. Lizzo denied the allegations two days later, referring to the accounts as “false” and “sensationalised stories”. Still, when the news first broke, the stomachs of fans around the world plummeted. Not Lizzo, I despaired. She’s everyone’s fave! Queen of simultaneous twerking and flute playing! The poster girl for self-empowerment! These reports sent fans like me into a crisis – could this really be true?
The lawsuit, which names the singer, her production company and the captain of her dance troupe, Shirlene Quigley, alleges instances of shaming dancers for weight gain, pressuring dancers to touch nude performers during a trip to a strip club, and subjecting some dancers to a brutal 12-hour “reaudition” to keep their jobs. Arianna Davis, one of the plaintiffs, claims to have soiled herself in the process, after being afraid that she’d lose her job if she asked for a bathroom break.
