On Tuesday, the dancers – Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez – filed a complaint in California superior court against Lizzo, her production business Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc, and Lizzo’s dance captain Shirlene Quigley.
Lizzo’s attorney and representative did not immediately reply to Insider’s request for comment. Quigley did not have an attorney listed, and she did not immediately react to a request for comment on social media.
According to their attorneys, Davis and Williams began working with Lizzo in 2021 while on the star’s reality TV program, “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” a competition for dancers to join Lizzo’s live performances.
The complaint then accuses Quigley of “constantly” giving the dance troupe “luridly detailed stories about her masturbatory habits and sexual fantasies, occasionally taking breaks to publicly practice her oral sex skills on bananas.”
The reality show debuted in March 2022 and won three Emmys that year, including one for best competitive program. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lizzo started casting for the show’s second season in April.
According to Davis’ attorneys, Quigley was particularly interested in Davis’ virginity during filming the episode.
According to the suit, Quigley would “routinely” bring up Davis’ virginity in chats and even publicly highlighted it in interviews she uploaded on social media without Davis’ authorization.
According to the suit’s news release, Davis and Williams’ objections about Quigley’s actions went unanswered.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs say in the action that after being hired onto Lizzo’s dance squad, Lizzo sexually harassed the dancers during a night out at an Amsterdam nudist club in February.
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,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit claims that at one point during the night, Lizzo began a collective chant calling out Davis and “pressuring” her to touch one of the performers’ breasts, despite Davis’ repeated refusals.
Davis’ attorneys claim she was “mortified” and eventually consented to touch the performer to quiet the shouting.
“Plaintiffs were astounded by Lizzo’s disregard for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed,” the lawsuit alleges.
Lizzo is also accused of body-shaming her employees, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, once Davis acquired some weight, Lizzo and her choreographer questioned Davis’ devotion to the profession. Davis’ attorneys claim the queries were “thinly veiled concerns about [Davis’s] weight gain, which Lizzo had previously called attention to.”
According to the lawsuit, after dismissing Davis in May, Lizzo yelled at Davis and Rodriguez while cracking her knuckles and balling up her fists, giving Rodriguez the impression that Lizzo was ready to beat her.
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez quit on the spot and Lizzo exclaimed, “Bye bitch!
Davis’ attorneys argue that when she was dismissed, Lizzo’s security team unlawfully held her, keeping her in a room and examining her phone for a tape she had previously erased. Williams, who worked for Lizzo, was dismissed in April.
Lizzo has not responded to the accusation publicly. Quigley posted a pleasant video on Instagram, expressing appreciation and delight after touring with incredible people.
Lizzo is known for advocating body acceptance, but she was chastised for included an ableist slur in her song “Grrls,” which she eventually changed and apologized for.
