Following news of a lawsuit alleging a hostile work environment and sexual harassment, more people who have worked with Lizzo are speaking out.
Yesterday, NBC News reported that three of Lizzo’s former dancers are suing the singer. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement, “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately, she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
After news hit, Courtney Hollinquest, who danced with Lizzo from 2016–2021, posted on her Instagram story, “This was very much my experience in my time there. Big shoutout to the dancers who had the courage to bring this to light.”
The story was shared by Quinn Wilson, Lizzo’s former creative director, who said, “I haven’t been a part of that world for around three years, for a reason. I very much applaud the dancers’ courage to bring this to light. And I grieve parts of my own experience.”
Quinn’s partner of four years, musician King Princess, did not name Lizzo but posted on their Instagram story, “I have watched [Quinn] be underpaid, undervalued, and deeply mistreated firsthand by people who have more fiscal and social power than her.”
Director Sophia Nahli Allison then claimed that she quit work on a Lizzo documentary after two weeks in 2019, saying, “I was treated with such disrespect by her. I witnessed how arrogant, self-centered, and unkind she is. […] I felt gaslit and was deeply hurt, but I’ve healed. Reading these reports made me realize how dangerous of a situation it was.”
The apparent first camera assistant for the project, Charlene Sánchez, reposted Sophia’s story and alleged, “This is all so true. I had to vent to so many of my friends about it. It was such a small crew, and the experience of working with Lizzo was a nightmare.”
BuzzFeed has reached out to Lizzo’s team for comment.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/lizzo-employee-lawsuit
