Lizzo has broken her silence on allegations in a lawsuit brought by three of her former dancers who—per CNN—“claim they were subjected to a hostile work environment and harassment.”
“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” Lizzo wrote. “Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
She went on to say, “These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Lizzo went on to say, in part, that she sometimes has to make “hard decisions” but that it's never her intention “to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren't valued as an important part of the team.”
She noted that she's not trying to be seen as a “victim,” but also knows she is not the “villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days.”
She went on to say, “There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight. I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”
Read Lizzo's full statement below:
According to CNN, allegations against Lizzo include claims that her dancers were subjected to racial and religious discrimination by her employees. Additionally, one of the plaintiffs alleged that she was pressured into touching a nude performer at a strip club, while another plaintiff alleged that Lizzo made comments about her “weight gain.” The New York Times reports that the plaintiffs also claim they were “exposed to an overtly sexual atmosphere that permeated their workplace” and “outings where nudity and sexuality were a focal point.”
