Lizzo opened up about a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against her last year.
The "Truth Hurts" singer was accused of harassment last August by three of her back-up dancers - Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez - but the singer was fired out of chance. Her company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., is still named in the lawsuit.
The dancers accused Lizzo of forcing them to touch naked performers and eat "bananas sticking out of the performers' v-gins" at Bananenbar, a club in Amsterdam, while they were on tour.
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Lizzo talks about the lawsuit
According to PEOPLELizzo spoke about the lawsuit during the episode "Honey, this is Keke Palmer" on Thursday. The "Boys" singer said she needs time to process the allegations.
Lizzo just finished her “Watch out for the big grrrloves" tour when she was "blindsided" by lawsuit.
"I was literally living my dream, and then the tour ended, and three former dancers just completely blindsided me with a lawsuit," she recalled, adding that she was "completely surprised."
Lizzo also said she was "deeply hurt" when she was given the opportunity she gave the dancers.
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"I was really hurt because they were three former dancers, so they weren't on the tour. They didn't, like, finish the tour with us. But regardless, they were people that I gave opportunities to," she said.
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Lizzo said Bananabar's escapades were 'consensual'
Lizzo revealed that she didn't even invite the dancers to the Bananabar bar, and the experience made her have more boundaries when it comes to employees.
"I was going to get this off my chest," she noted, adding that she originally went to the club alone before others joined her. "I didn't take them anywhere. They came to the club I was in and it wasn't a mandatory invitation," she said. "I didn't even know those two particular dancers came to mind, you. Only two came, even though all three said they did, only two I didn't even know were coming."
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According toPEOPLELizzo is accused of encouraging dancers to catch dildos sent from v-gym performers at Bananabar. She was also accused of encouraging the dancers to take turns "eating bananas sticking out of the performer's v-gin".
Lizzo went on to say that the evening was fun, but "everything was consensual."
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'Let's be clear, I did nothing wrong'
Lizzo added that she had done "nothing wrong" and that she liked the three dancers before the lawsuit. She was particularly offended by the allegation of sexual harassment.
"These were people I liked and respected as dancers, respected them as dancers," Lizzo said.
"So I thought, what? But then I heard all the other things like sexual harassment, and I thought, well, they're trying, I don't know what they're trying to do, but these are the kinds of things that the media can turn into something that they're not... Let's face it, I didn't do anything wrong."
Lizzo denied the allegations on Instagram
Lizzo denied the allegations on Instagram back in 2023 and called the allegations "false."
"These past few days have been extremely difficult and extremely disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respect have been called into question," she wrote.
The Grammy winner also said the allegations were "sensationalized."
"My character has been criticized. I usually choose not to respond to false allegations, but they are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to talk about. These sensationalized stories come from former employees who have already publicly admitted to telling them his behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional."
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Lizzo was also sued by a former dresser
In September 2023, Lizzo was also sued by her former wardrobe stylist, Asha Daniels. Daniels claimed the "Rumors" singer bullied and harassed herself, dancers and background singers while on tour with the artist.
"I witnessed myself, the dancers and backing vocalists and my local team in every city being harassed and harassed on a regular basis," Daniels said.
"The judge saw it and he looked at the evidence in court and said, 'OK. We can't let this go,'" Lizzo said, noting that she was dismissed from the lawsuit but the appeal stands.
Daniels' attorney, Ron Zambrano, noted that the lawsuit is still active and does not absolve the singer of wrongdoing.
"The lawsuit is still very active and has not been dismissed," he said. "The verdict was not reached for lack of evidence, but rather based on procedural jurisdiction. It in no way exonerates Lizzo from the incredible allegations that occurred on her watch."
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