CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses alleged sexual harassment.
Another former employee of Lizzo has come forward with allegations of racial and sexual harassment, and bullying.
On Thursday Asha Daniels, a fashion designer who created pieces for Lizzo’s 2023 tour, filed a lawsuit against Lizzo, other members of her team – including her wardrobe manager Amanda Nomua – and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc.
In court documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Daniels alleged that Lizzo allowed a sexualised and racially charged work environment. Daniels also claimed that Lizzo allowed her management team to make racist and fatphobic comments, despite Daniels alerting the alleged behaviour to Lizzo’s management team, per TMZ.
Daniels claimed that she was expected to work 20-hour days and work up to seven days a week.
In response to Daniels’ lawsuit, Lizzo’s representative Stefan Friedman made a statement on her behalf.
“As Lizzo receives a Humanitarian Award tonight from the Black Music Action Coalition for the incredible charitable work she has done to lift up all people, an ambulance-chasing lawyer tries to sully this honour by recruiting someone to file a bogus, absurd publicity-stunt lawsuit who, wait for it, never actually met or even spoke with Lizzo,” per Entertainment Tonight.
“We will pay this as much attention as it deserves. None,” he concluded.
Daniel’s lawsuit was filed just over a month after three former dancers filed a lawsuit against the singer and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley with allegations of sexual harassment and fatphobic incidents between 2021 and 2023. On the back of the dancers’ allegations, a filmmaker who worked with the star for just two weeks came forward with why she left the “toxic” working environment.
The allegations made by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez cited an array of alleged incidents involving the singer, including sexually denigrating behaviour, extreme working conditions and fat-shaming.
Since the allegations came to light, more former employees of Lizzo have come forward to back the plaintiff’s claims and share their alleged experiences with the “Truth Hurts” singer.
One of the creatives who worked with Lizzo before, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison (@yagurlsophia), claimed that their time together left her feeling “gaslit” and “hurt”.
“In 2019, I travelled a bit with Lizzo to be the director of her documentary. I walked away after about two weeks. I was treated with such disrespect by her,” Allison alleged in an IG Story.
“I witnessed how arrogant, self-centred and unkind she is. I was not protected and was thrown into a shitty situation with little support.
“My spirit said to run as fast you fucking can and I’m so grateful I trusted my gut.
“Reading these reports made me realise how dangerous of a situation it was. This kind of abuse of power happens far too often.”
The day after Allison initially posted her claims, she reiterated in another Instagram Story where she doubled down on her stance.
“Since I’ve spoken out, I’ve had others privately share their very similar experiences, and I have also been affirmed by people who witnessed what I went through,” she wrote.
“Lizzo creates an extremely toxic and hostile working environment and undermines the work, labour and authority of other black and brown womxn in the process. (Notice how the documentary ended up being directed by a cis white man.)
“She is a narcissistic bully and has built her brand off of lies,” Allison alleged.
“I was excited to support and protect a Black woman through the documentary process but quickly learned her image and ‘message’ was a curated facade.
“I stand with the dancers and anyone who has similar experiences working with her and her team. These working conditions are not ok.”
Former Lizzo dancer, Courtney Hollinquest (@cquestt) also shared her support for the lawsuit, claiming she’d experienced the same alleged behaviours from the singer and her crew in an Instagram Story.
“For clarification, I’m not a part of the lawsuit — but this was very much my experience in my time there,” Hollinquest said.
“Big shout out to the dancers who had the courage to bring this to light.”
Soon after Hollinquest shared her Story, Lizzo’s former creative director Quinn Whitney Wilson (@quinnwilsonn), also shared her alleged experience with the “Truth Hurts” rapper.
“Echoing what @cquestt said. I haven’t been a part of that world for around three years for a reason,” Wilson revealed next to a screenshot of Hollinquests’ IG story.
“I very much applaud the dancers courage to bring this to light. And I grieve parts of my own experience. I’d appreciate space to understand my feelings.”
Hollinquest reposted Wilson’s story, adding: “My sister forever. Only a few know what we’ve been through.”
Another filmmaker, Charlene Sanchez (@charlene.sanchez16), backed Wilson’s claims, alleging she had to “vent to so many friends” about the Lizzo documentary.
“It was such a small crew and the experience of working with Lizzo was a nightmare,” Sanchez wrote in an IG Story alongside Wilson’s post.
She then wrote in a second IG Story: “My only wish is that people with so much fame and power take accountability for their behaviour and make changes.”
Amid the lawsuit, pop superstar Beyoncé left out Lizzo’s name during her performance of “BREAK MY SOUL (Queen’s Remix)”. According to Pop Tingz, Beyoncé replaced Lizzo with Erykah Badu; however, Lizzo’s name still appeared on the jumbotron.
Shirlene Quigley (@Shirlenequigley), Lizzo’s dance captain who’s involved in the lawsuit, posted an IG Story proclaiming her faith in God. In the lawsuit, the dancers alleged Quigley attempted to convert employees to Christianity and that she allegedly shamed people for having pre-marital sex.
“God is so so good. God loves you so so so so so so much. No matter what you’re going through,” Quigley said in an IG story.
“I had such an amazing time on tour with amazing people, and I’m so excited to be home resting with my family and my dog after an amazing experience.”
Quigley did not directly address the lawsuit or the allegations made against her.
Lizzo was recently in Australia performing at Splendour In The Grass before heading to New Zealand to explore Hobbiton.
The “Good As Hell” singer released a lengthy statement denying the allegations to her IG Grid on August 3.
“My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticised. Usually, I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed,” she wrote.
Lizzo continues to deny the allegations against her.
Image source: Getty Images / Dave Simpson
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