Lizzo’s former dancers accuse star of ‘gaslighting’ over denial of weight-shaming and sexual harassment allegations

Two of the dancers suing Lizzo over claims of weight-shaming and sexual and racial harassment have instructed Sky News they really feel the US singer is “gaslighting” and “victim blaming” them by denying their allegations.

Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, together with a 3rd dancer, Arianna Davis, have filed a lawsuit against the Grammy-winning star and her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring (BGBT), which additionally consists of claims of spiritual harassment, incapacity discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.

In a brand new interview, Ms Williams and Ms Rodriguez mentioned they’ve proof their claims are true and that different dancers – for Lizzo and different stars – have been in contact to share their very own tales since they went public with their claims.

After news of the lawsuit emerged, Lizzo issued a press release on social media saying she was “not the villain”. The singer, who is known for championing body positivity, described the allegations as “unbelievable” and “too outrageous to not be addressed”.

In response, Ms Williams mentioned: “Her statement is just confirming the pattern of every time somebody speaks up or advocates for themselves, like we’re doing now, we get victim-blamed, we get gaslighted. And she likes to point the finger instead of addressing the issues that are being brought up.”

This is one thing that occurs on an “everyday basis” when working with stars, she mentioned. “Sadly, we’ve already experienced not only dancers that have worked with her directly, but dancers that are just in the entertainment industry in general, they’ve already come out and they’ve shared their stories.

“They really feel courageous sufficient to share their experiences… earlier than folks have been simply silent about it, they did not really feel snug sufficient. They did not really feel protected sufficient to name these artists out, to name these administration groups out, and allow them to know, hey, what you are doing is mistaken.”

‘These are our experiences – this actually occurred to us’

Ms Rodriguez acknowledged that the claims in opposition to Lizzo could appear “outrageous” to some, however added: “I believe why it could appear sensationalised or simply outrageous, nicely, one is as a result of it is outrageous. We have been shocked by all of these items that occurred to us…

“Unfortunately, this treatment by management, artists, you know, it’s normal in the entertainment industry, but it sounds so outrageous because I feel this is the first time something like this has been brought to light so publicly. So, yes, it’s outrageous. Yes, all of these claims seem outlandish. But these are our experiences and this really happened to us.

“So to simply type of deny and sufferer blame and never even take accountability for, ‘I’m sorry if that is even the way in which I may need made you’re feeling’… it is simply so insensitive and type of invalidates our expertise as an entire.

“We have proof of these things happening to us time and time again. So everything has been documented over time.”

Read extra:
Lizzo’s future is hanging in the balance
‘I am not the villain’: Lizzo responds to dancers’ claims

Lizzo is a four-time Grammy winner who was named Time’s entertainer of the yr in 2019. She is finest recognized for hits together with Truth Hurts, Juice, Good As Hell and About Damn Time.

Ms Davis and Ms Williams started dancing with the star after competing on her Amazon actuality present Watch Out For The Big Grrrls in 2021, however have been each later fired. Ms Rodriguez was employed in the identical yr after performing within the video for the tune Rumours, however resigned earlier this yr over the “appalling behaviour”.

In her assertion responding to the ladies’s lawsuit, Lizzo mentioned: “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 added: “I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days.”

The dancers’ allegations embrace the accusation that Lizzo pressured considered one of them into touching a nude performer at a membership in Amsterdam’s crimson mild district.

They additionally allege the captain of Lizzo’s dance staff, Shirlene Quigley, tried to transform the performers’ non secular beliefs and derided those that had premarital intercourse, additionally allegedly sharing lewd sexual fantasies and publicly discussing the virginity of one of many complainants.

‘I do know what it feels wish to be physique shamed’

Lizzo has described the claims as “sensationalised stories” coming from disgruntled former staff.

“As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do,” she mentioned in her assertion final week. “I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans.

“With ardour comes onerous work and excessive requirements. Sometimes I’ve to make onerous selections nevertheless it’s by no means my intention to make anybody really feel uncomfortable or like they are not valued as an necessary a part of the staff.”

Lizzo went on to say she is open about her sexuality and expressing herself, “however I can’t settle for or permit folks to make use of that openness to make me out to be one thing I’m not”.

Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts

She added: “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 criticise or terminate an employee because of their weight.

“I’m harm however I cannot let the nice work I’ve completed on this planet be overshadowed by this. I need to thank everybody who has reached out in assist to carry me up throughout this troublesome time.”

Sky News has contacted representatives for Lizzo for remark.