Saturday, October 28, 2023

Lizzo's Dancers Sign Declarations of Support


Back in August four of pop star Lizzo's back-up dancers filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her claiming she fostered a hostile work environment [click here if you missed that]. 

Now 18 of Lizzo's dancers have submitted declarations backing her up...

From Page Six
Lizzo’s legal team received signed declarations from 18 of the Grammy winner’s staffers who dispute the claims made in a scathing lawsuit filed by three of her ex-dancers, Page Six has learned.
According to court documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday and obtained by us exclusively, dancers, choreographers and musicians who have taken part in Lizzo’s touring company allege they never witnessed or experienced body-shaming, racism or other forms of harassment during their tenure with the pop star.
Dancer Arianna Davis claimed in the original suit that the “Juice” singer allegedly called out her weight gain even though she had disclosed to management that she battles binge eating, depression and anxiety.
However, dancer Melissa Locke claims in her statement, “Having worked with Lizzo for years, it is my personal belief that Lizzo would never body shame anyone, including Davis, or comment on her weight in a negative and hurtful manner.”
Jayla Sullivan, a dancer and contestant on “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” adds in her declaration that she “never observed” Lizzo shaming Davis or co-plaintiff Crystal Williams, adding, “Lizzo inspired all of us to celebrate and love ourselves and our bodies as we are.”
Asia Banks — who describes herself as the “biggest dancer on tour” in the filing — says in her statement, “Lizzo assembled an entire group of plus-size dancers to showcase our talent and celebrate us.”
The new declarations also dispute the plaintiffs’ recollections about a team outing at Bananenbar, an adult entertainment club in Amsterdam in which the ex-dancers claimed they were forced to participate in inappropriate sexual acts.
Per the original suit, Lizzo allegedly pressured dancers to take turns “touching nude performers, [catch] dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas and [eat] bananas protruding from the performers’ vag***s.”
However, drummer Michel’le Baptiste states in her declaration that she saw Davis at the bar during the night in question and the dancer allegedly “did not look uncomfortable.”
“She was having a great time, just like we all were,” the musician further claims.
Dancer Melissa Locke states in her declaration that she spoke with Davis and her co-plaintiff Noelle Rodriguez the morning after Bananenbar.
“They never said they felt uncomfortable or pressured,” she alleges in her statement. “They were very enthusiastic about what a great night out they had.
“I remember telling them, ‘That sounds like so much fun, I wish you had woken me up to go with you.’ They agreed that it was a fun night and told me that they went out in the Red Light District after. They did not complain or sound upset in any way.”
Several Lizzo staffers also disputed the claim that they were “pressured” to attend the salacious outings.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lizzo is doing everything in her power to keep her career and that’s getting other people to back her up. Still it doesn’t mean they weren’t either. They may have been scared to come forward

Anonymous said...

I bet they did sign a declaration! LOL I would have, too.

When I go to work my manager doesn't want to hear any lip or a bunch of questions about why or even how. He also doesn't want me grumbling about how he runs his show. I am there to push his agenda. I can always get another job if I don't like it here. That's how it is with every job I've had. Same with the dancers. If you don't like the program then go somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

Lizzo lacks discretion, couth, manners and discretion. But I highly doubt the claims made against her are real. I think she's going to be found innocent of these claims but that her career will struggle to recover. Whoever is behind this lawsuit needed to dim her shine.

Anonymous said...

Next time, hire men to go on tour.

Anonymous said...

Lizzo herself still has not denied specific claims. She better be negotiating because she’s going to lose this one in court. That whole banana thing is enough to hang her.

Anonymous said...

Lizzo not contesting their allegations is pretty much the same as Usher not contesting the allegations against him about having herpes. He never showed proof of not having it.
I expected her to speak up and she never did which makes me think the dancers weren’t lying. She keeps posting pictures as if this is a game. The remaining dancers need a job and can’t afford to get involved so of course they’re signing a de loot support!

Anonymous said...

*declaration of support *
That darn autocorrect isn’t always correct. Lol!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure they don't want to lose their jobs 🙄.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Ted Bundy could've gotten 18 people to sign declarations proclaiming how much of a nice guy he was also. Just because 100 people aren't victimized doesn't mean there can't be one person who is. Good luck with that Lizzo.

Anonymous said...

3:49
Delusional women still want Ted Bundy knowing he’s a unaliver. Smh

Anonymous said...

Got Milk

Anonymous said...

Lizzo gave these big girls a job that nobody else would. Now they acting brand new like the skinny girls and want to sue. Good luck on your dance career.
The other poster was correct if you don't like the job leave.
Nobody is looking for big, out of breath women, sweating all over the stage in a PROFFESSIONAL dance group.
If you win you can take your money and go home and eat your self into oblivion. Bloop

Anonymous said...

^^^^Because you’re big you’re supposed to accept abuse? Stick your stupid bloop up your …

Anonymous said...

11:50 AM, It has not been proven in a court of law phat so and so.

Dee said...

11:50 - I know they're glad they ain't YO fat as family. They'd have no support from you. You'd tell them to go sit they fat as down and be happy to be breathing. WTH??? Fat people shouldn't stand up for themselves????? They're supposed to accept poor treatment because they're fat???? TF???

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