A group of loyal tour staffers has come forward to defend popular singer Lizzo in the midst of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three former dancers. Refuting the allegations made against the Grammy-winning artist, 18 independent members of Lizzo’s touring company have submitted declarations emphasizing her promotion of a positive and respectful environment.
Key Takeaway
Lizzo’s tour staffers have come to her defense against the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three former dancers. In a series of declarations, the tour members disputed the allegations and stressed the positive and respectful environment created by Lizzo. The supporters countered claims of mandatory attendance at explicit sex shows, body-shaming, and racism, asserting that Lizzo always prioritized a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
Standing Up Against the Claims
In response to the lawsuit filed by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, tour dancer Kiara Mooring has stepped forward to challenge the notion that there was an unspoken rule requiring dancers to accompany Lizzo to explicit sex shows. Mooring emphasizes that attendance at these events was entirely voluntary, and choosing not to participate did not result in any punishment or negative consequences.
Mooring firmly states, “This claim also makes no sense because plenty of the dancers (myself included) did not go to Bananenbar that night and we still have our job dancing with Lizzo.”
It is important to note that Bananenbar is a famous venue in Amsterdam known for hosting a controversial banana sex show. The dancers suing Lizzo allege that the singer forced them to touch nude performers and sexually denigrated them during their visit to Bananenbar.
Contradicting Testimonies
Another dancer, Melissa Locke, recalls conversing with two of Lizzo’s accusers, Davis and Rodriguez, the morning after their outing to Bananenbar. According to Locke, the two dancers expressed enthusiasm and described the night out as enjoyable, without mentioning any discomfort or pressure.
Locke reminisces, “I remember telling them, ‘That sounds like so much fun, I wish you had woken me up to go with you.’ They agreed that it was a fun night and told me that they went out in the Red Light District after. They did not complain or sound upset in any way.”
The assertions made by Davis regarding Lizzo body-shaming her for weight gain and subsequently firing her over an eating disorder admission are disputed by two other dancers.
Alaini Walker, who joined the tour after the accusers were no longer part of it, states, “In my experience, there was absolutely no body shaming on tour. I have experienced racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and body shaming in this industry, but never while working with Lizzo. In fact, Lizzo’s tour felt like the opposite of many negative experiences I have had as a dancer.”
Backing up Walker’s statement, Asia Banks attests that Lizzo went above and beyond to ensure her comfort and confidence as the largest dancer on the tour. Banks recalls Lizzo’s attentiveness in making sure she felt secure and comfortable in her costumes for every show.
Zuri Appleby, the bass player, affirms that Davis was not subjected to fat-shaming. Appleby clarifies, “To the contrary, everyone on the tour was genuinely concerned about Davis, not because she had gained weight, but because she was lax about her performances, her hygiene, and her health.”
Additionally, dancer Chawnta Van disputes claims of racism during the tour, expressing that Lizzo actively supports and empowers Black women and would not tolerate any form of racism.
Addressing Other Allegations
Having turned down other dancing opportunities during tour pauses, the plaintiffs assert they suffered financial losses. However, dancer Chawnta clarifies that the dancers had a retainer, allowing them to receive a percentage of their weekly rate during breaks in the tour and leaving them free to pursue other gigs when Lizzo did not have a show scheduled.
Furthermore, Noelle alleges that during a meeting on May 3, she feared physical aggression from Lizzo. However, another dancer who claims to have been present at the meeting asserts that Lizzo never came close to Rodriguez or exhibited any signs of aggression.
The assistant tour manager, Molly Gordon, provides additional information, stating that Crystal Williams was terminated due to performance issues, tardiness, and budget constraints. Gordon asserts that Williams pleaded to stay on the tour after her termination.
All these supportive declarations have been submitted as part of a motion filed by Lizzo’s attorneys in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking the dismissal of most, if not all, of the claims made against her.
