Lizzo's dancers claim they feared losing jobs if they didn't adhere to demands
Two of Lizzo's dancers, out of the three that have filed a lawsuit against the singer, her production company and her dance captain, have made claims that they feared they would face repercussions they didn't do what Lizzo wanted.
The singer's former backup dancers, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams , joined TMZ Live on Wednesday to make further claims about the singer.
One of the women claimed they feared if they "didn't do something or adhere to certain suggestions or demands, that your job could be in jeopardy". In the lawsuit, which emerged earlier this week, it claims that if Lizzo was dissatisfied with her dancer's performances, they "would be fired and sent home". This revelation comes after Lizzo was accused in a bombshell lawsuit of "weight-shaming" one of the plaintiffs, with them also claiming to have been "pressured while at a strip club".
Lizzo has been accused of "weight shaming" and "sexual harassment" (Getty Images)The 35-year-old singing sensation, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, was hit with the lawsuit earlier this week. She has since spoken out, with her posting a statement on Instagram that reads: "As an artist I have always been passionate about what I do. 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."
She added: "With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team." She went on to add that she is "not here to be looked at as a victim".
Lizzo and her new boyfriend go official with 'hard launch' at pre-Grammys bash
Lizzo shared a statement on Instagram today (Instagram/lizzobeeating)
This is the first time Lizzo broke her silence (Instagram/lizzobeeating)Lizzo went on: "I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.
"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," she concluded before thanking her fans for their support.
Earlier this week NBC broke the news that they had obtained documents of the lawsuit that has been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. In the documents, it is claimed that Lizzo pointed out one of the dancer's weight gain, with her also alleged to have "berated her and then fired her after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition".
The news of the lawsuit broke earlier this week (Instagram/lizzobeeating)
Lizzo thanked her fans for the support (Instagram/lizzobeeating)The lawsuit, which was filed by three of the singer's dancers, also accuses the captain of Lizzo’s dance troop, Shirlene Quigley, of "proselytising". This is defined as "the action of attempting to convert someone from one religion, belief, or opinion to another". Shirlene is also alleged to have ridiculed those who had sex before marriage and is said to have shared "lewd sexual fantasies" and "publicly discussing the virginity of one of the plaintiffs".
Elsewhere in the documents it is claimed that the dancers were pressured to "touch a nude performer at an Amsterdam club". NBC reports that the singer allegedly "began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas".
One of the plaintiffs then claims that Lizzo pressured her to "touch the breasts of one of the nude women".
The claims have not yet been tested in court.
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