Lizzo’s ready “2 Be Loved” again.
The “Juice” songstress addressed the bombshell allegations against her on Thursday morning, penning a lengthy statement posted on social media.
Lizzo, whose legal name is Melissa Jefferson, is being sued for allegedly making a hostile work environment by supposedly subjecting dancers, the plaintiffs, to body-shaming and sexually denigrating behavior against their will.
The “Truth Hurts” singer denied the accusations, calling them “false” and “unbelievable.”
“These previous couple of days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” Lizzo began her statement on X, formerly generally known as Twitter. “Often I select not to answer false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.
“These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who’ve already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
The hitmaker, who’s most known for her body-positive messaging and unapologetic self-love, admitted she is usually forced to “make hard decisions,” but that it was not her intention to “make anyone feel uncomfortable.”
“As an artist I even have all the time been very enthusiastic about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the top of the day I only need to put out the very best art that represents me and my fans,” she continued.
“With passion comes labor and high standards. Sometimes I even have to make hard decisions nevertheless it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as a crucial a part of the team.”
The YITTY founder said that while she doesn’t need to be victimized, she can also be “not the villain” she has been painted to be, writing that her “openness” about her sexuality has been used against her.
“I’m not here to be checked out as a victim, but I also know that I’m not the villain that individuals and the media have portrayed me to be these previous couple of days,” she wrote. “I’m very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to make use of that openness to make me out to be something I’m not.
“There may be nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women on the earth. I do know what it looks like to be body shamed on a day by day basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an worker due to their weight.”
The host and executive producer of “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” concluded her statement by urging her fans to not let her work be “overshadowed” by the continued controversy.
“I’m hurt but I is not going to let the nice work I’ve done on the earth be overshadowed by this,” she wrote. “I need to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”
The lawsuit, filed this week, alleged that the Grammy winner took her crew out to Amsterdam’s red light district for what allegedly turned out to be a raunchy rendezvous.
In response to court documents obtained by Page Six, not only did Lizzo allegedly coerce forged members to the touch and interact with nude performers, but she also purportedly deceived dancers into attending one other show.
Davis, who claimed to “soil herself” during auditions and feared “the repercussions” of going to toilet, was allegedly fired “on the spot” after recording a gathering with the singer.
Davis, together with former dancers Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, are suing Lizzo, Big Grrrl Big Touring and dance captain Shirlene Quigley for general and special damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against every part Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways which might be … absolutely demoralizing,” Ron Zambrano, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said in an announcement.
Former colleagues have also spoken out concerning the performer, including former creative director Quinn Whitney Wilson and former dancer Courtney Hollinquest.
The 2 applauded the plaintiffs, alleging that they experienced similar situations while working with the star.
The previous director for Lizzo’s documentary “Love, Lizzo” has also come forward together with her own statements.
“I walked away after about two weeks,” filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison wrote, partly, on X, formerly generally known as Twitter. “I used to be treated with such disrespect by her. I witnessed how smug, self-centered, and unkind she is.”
Fans have debated if all of the rumors are true, taking sides online after Beyoncé seemingly omitted Lizzo’s name from her performance of “Break My Soul,” which generally lists the “About Rattling Time” singer’s name amongst a slew of others.
The “Single Ladies” singer appeared to switch Lizzo’s name with Erykah Badu within the remix amid the legal row, leading fans to declare, “Beyoncé canceled Lizzo.”
