This is becoming Bad As Hell.
More people are accusing Lizzo of inappropriate sexual behavior after the singer was sued for sexual harassment by three of her former backup dancers.
Attorneys representing the lawsuit against Lizzo, 35, confirmed to Pvnew on Wednesday that they have been reviewing and vetting new complaints from at least six people “with similar stories” who worked with the twerking pop star.
Lawyer Ron Zambrano shared that his firm has been examining dancers who worked with Lizzo on her Amazon Studios reality show, “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.”
Zambrano said in a statement that the original three accusers “have bravely spoken out and shared their experiences, opening the door for others to feel empowered to do the same.”
The allegations are of a “sexually charged environment” and failure to pay employees, Zambrano added.
“Some of the claims we are reviewing may be actionable, but it is too soon to say,” he said.
Just last week, dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez accused the “Good As Hell” songstress of allegedly subjecting them to endure weight-shaming, sexually denigrating behavior and participation in disturbing sex shows, according to the lawsuit obtained by Pvnew.
Plaintiffs Davis and Williams claimed in the filing that they were eventually fired, while Rodriguez allegedly resigned over Lizzo’s “stunning” actions.
The three women claimed that the Grammy winner pressured them into attending a sex show in Amsterdam’s red light district while on tour in the Netherlands in February 2023.
“Things quickly got out of hand,” the lawsuit claimed. “Lizzo 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.”
The dancers alleged that Lizzo then deceived them into attending another nude show, thereby “robbing them of the choice not to participate,” the documents state.
Davis also claimed in the lawsuit that she once had to “soil herself” on stage during an “excruciating” re-audition, “fearing the repercussions” of excusing herself to go to the bathroom.
Davis alleged that Lizzo fired her “on the spot” after learning that she had recorded one of their meetings – even though it was for the purpose of having “a copy of the notes” the artist gave.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez alleged that she at one point “feared that Lizzo intended to hit her and would have done so if one of the other dancers had not intervened.”
“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 … absolutely demoralizing,” the plaintiffs’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement.
The plaintiffs are suing for general and special damages, as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Lizzo has since responded to the accusations, calling the claims “outrageous.”
“My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. 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 wrote in a statement via Instagram, days after the lawsuit was filed.
The flutist called the claims “sensationalized” and alleged that her former employees had already publicly “admitted” that their behavior while touring with her had been “inappropriate and unprofessional.”
“It’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team,” she wrote, noting that she is not a “villain.”
“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,” she continued. “There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world.”
Lizzo also said that she herself is body-shamed on a daily basis and “would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”
“I am hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this,” she concluded. “I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”
Lizzo has faced serious backlash amid the lawsuit, including the loss of thousands of followers on Instagram. The 2023 Made In America music festival – which would have marked her first concert since the lawsuit was filed – was also abruptly canceled “due to severe circumstances outside of production control.”
Meanwhile, the singer’s former dancers slammed Lizzo’s “dismissive” statement, accusing her of showing an “utter lack of empathy.”
Reps for Lizzo did not immediately respond to Pvnew’s request for comment.
