Lizzo’s legal problems worsened when a former tour employee sued her

Lizzo’s lawsuits persist. Asha Daniels, who worked on tour in Lizzo’s wardrobe department this year, claimed in a new lawsuit that she was routinely denied breaks while working 20-hour days and heard racist and fatphobic insults from Lizzo’s crew.

Her complaint claims she labeled Black women on tour “dumb,” “useless,” and “fat,” alluding to Lizzo staffer Amanda Nomura.

Three additional dancers sued in early August for weight-shaming and sexual harassment. Pitchfork contacted Daniels’ attorney for further information.

Daniels alleges in her complaint that Nomura dragged a laundry rack over her ankle and chastised her for wearing Crocs to decrease swelling. After talking to Lizzo’s tour manager, Carlina Gugliotta, she was advised to collect video proof but believed it would be immoral.

She also alleges Lizzo banned her from wearing sensually around her because she didn’t want her partner around other beautiful ladies. Daniels believes being written off caused PTSD, headaches, visual distortions, exhaustion, and worry.

Stefan Friedman, Lizzo’s publicist, said: “An ambulance-chasing attorney hires a stranger to file a bogus, absurd publicity stunt lawsuit against Lizzo tonight to tarnish her Black Music Action Coalition Humanitarian Award. Lizzo has done great charity to help everyone.”

We’ll consider it. Not one. The August lawsuit identified Lizzo, Big Grrl Big Touring, and dance captain Shirlene Quigley as defendants. The original plaintiffs’ attorney, Neama Rahmani, represents Asha Daniels.

Race and disability bias are discussed, as is Lizzo’s alleged encounter in Amsterdam where a dancer touched a naked performance’s breasts.

In the same performance, Lizzo told the dancers to “catch dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas and eat bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.”

In response to the first complaint, Lizzo called the “false allegations” “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed.”

She remarked, “I never want to make someone feel uncomfortable or unimportant on the team. Sometimes I must make tough choices.”

I don’t want to be a victim, but I’m not the monster the public and media have painted me as.”

In an interview, the first three plaintiffs—Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez—reiterated and expanded on their concerns.

“I didn’t realize everything was bad until I left camp,” Davis said. “I just chalked it up to Lizzo being a diva or the business; these are our struggles.”

Lizzo denying their claims was “disheartening” and “incredibly frustrating” to her.

Fourteen Lizzo dancers resolved another case from earlier in the year in late August.

Due of their role in the 2022 documentary Love, Lizzo, the dancers disputed remuneration. In February, a “Lizzo entity” and Boardwalk Pictures resolved the lawsuit for $109,551.