Lizzo Clears the Air: Star Addresses 'Fat-Shaming' Allegations as Lawsuit Appeal Takes New Turn

Published 1 day ago3 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Lizzo Clears the Air: Star Addresses 'Fat-Shaming' Allegations as Lawsuit Appeal Takes New Turn

Recording artist Lizzo has achieved a significant legal victory as fat-shaming allegations, stemming from a bombshell 2023 lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers, Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez, and Crystal Williams, have been officially dismissed. A Superior Court judge initially ruled against these claims, and the accusers subsequently decided to drop their appeal in November, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle.

Lizzo, a Detroit native, took to TikTok and Instagram on Monday, December 15, to share a statement regarding the dismissal of these claims. In her post, she stated, "The fat-shaming claims against me have been officially dropped by my accusers. They conceded it had no merit in court. There was no evidence that I fired them because they gained weight. Because it never happened. Now the truth is finally out."

The singer vehemently denied ever firing anyone over weight gain, asserting that the dancers' dismissal was actually due to a secret recording. Lizzo alleged that a private conversation she had was filmed without her consent and then distributed to another former employee. In a February 2024 ruling, Judge Epstein concurred that the fat-shaming allegations were protected by First Amendment rights and contradicted by evidence indicating the dancers were terminated for illicitly recording a private meeting.

Lizzo reiterated her position: "They weren’t fired for gaining weight. They were fired for taking a private recording of me without my consent and sending it off to ex-employees. I have never fired an employee for gaining weight. I have only encouraged and supported people with bigger bodies and shared my platform with them." The 37-year-old artist expressed relief, stating, "This claim has haunted me since the day it came out. It has been devastating to suffer through this in silence but I let my lawyers lead and I’m so grateful for this victory."

Despite this partial triumph, the legal case is not entirely resolved. The lawsuit, which also includes allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, will continue against Lizzo and her production company. Early in 2024, a Los Angeles judge ruled that these aspects of the case could proceed, despite Lizzo's team labeling the lawsuit as a "fabricated sob story."

In early December, the former backup dancers urged the courts to advance the sexual harassment claims to trial, rejecting the "Truth Hurts" singer's free speech defenses. Among the more sensational allegations, the accusers claimed Lizzo pressured ex-staffers to touch nude performers and consume bananas from their genitals during European sex shows in Amsterdam and Paris.

Lizzo's attorney, Melissa Glass, countered these claims in a statement to Billboard on December 11, asserting that the brief "regurgitates the false accusations from their complaint." Glass further stated, "As was true two years ago, the dancers cannot find a single person to corroborate their meritless claims. In contrast, 18 witnesses who worked with Lizzo on the Special tour submitted sworn statements refuting the claims made by Davis, Williams and Rodriguez. We look forward to the Court of Appeals ruling on this matter." Lizzo herself remains resolute, stating, "I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not," and affirmed her commitment to fighting every remaining claim until the truth prevails, confirming, "I am still in a legal battle. I am not settling. I will be fighting every single claim until the truth is out."

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