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Lizzo’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit On Pause As She Appeals Ruling

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In August of 2023, three of Lizzo’s former backup dancers came together to sue the hitmaker. The dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, accuse her of sexual harassment, creating a hostile working environment, and more. Since they filed the lawsuit, Lizzo has formally denied the allegations. She’s also continued to push for the case to be dropped under California’s anti-SLAPP statute. In January, Los Angeles Judge Mark H. Epstein denied her motion to toss out the suit altogether, though he did dismiss certain accusations.

Now, the performer has an opportunity to appeal his ruling. On Thursday (March 7), Epstein ordered the case “stayed,” meaning that all proceedings will be on pause for the foreseeable future. It’s unclear exactly how long the case will be halted, but it’s expected to be at least a few months before proceedings pick back up.

Backup Dancers’ Case On Ice For Several Months

Lizzo's Sexual Harassment Lawsuit On Pause As She Appeals Ruling — Lizzo performs in support of her “Special” release at Chase Center on November 12, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

“It is dangerous for the court to weigh in, ham-fisted, into constitutionally protected activity,” Epstein said of his January ruling. “But it is equally dangerous to turn a blind eye to allegations of discrimination or other forms of misconduct merely because they take place in a speech-related environment.” Lizzo’s former dancers aren’t the only ones to take legal action against her in recent months, however.

In December, designer Asha Daniels alleged that she encountered a “culture of racism and bullying” while working with Lizzo on her Special tour. Lizzo’s legal team quickly denied Daniels’ claims, calling them “meritless and salacious.” According to them, the designer “refused to comply with instructions” and “refused to show up for work.” What do you think of Lizzo’s backup dancers’ lawsuit being put on hold? Are you surprised that it will be at least another few months before the case can move forward? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Lizzo’s Accusers Call Her Planned Countersuit A “Scare Tactic”

August 25, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Earlier this month, news hit that several of Lizzo’s former backup dancers had come together to sue her. The dancers claim that she created a hostile work environment, further accusing her of sexual harassment and fat-shaming. Allegedly, she took them to an explicit performance in Amsterdam, and pressured them to engage with entertainers in a suggestive way. It came as a shock to Lizzo’s fans, who have known the performer to be an advocate for both body positivity and woman empowerment.

Following the initial suit, various other former employees have come forward with their own stories of alleged misconduct. Shortly after the news broke, Lizzo took to social media to deny the allegations. She called them “fabricated” and “outrageous.” Earlier this week, her attorney Marty Singer spoke with TMZ, revealing that she plans to countersue for “malicious prosecution.” Now, the dancers’ legal team has responded to the planned countersuit, claiming that it’s an “insidious attempt at intimidation.”

Former Dancers’ Legal Team Calls Countersuit An “Attempt At Intimidation”

Lizzo's Accusers Call Her Planned Countersuit A "Scare Tactic" — Lizzo performs on stage at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on May 25, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

“Lizzo’s threat to countersue for malicious prosecution is an insidious attempt at intimidation and delivers a chilling effect to all harassment victims in the workplace,” the women’s attorneys say. “The scare tactics, bullying and victim shaming coming from Lizzo’s team is exactly the behavior employees face in the entertainment industry who feel they have no choice but to ‘suck it up’ for access and success.”

“Her team is merely trying to suppress the truth and hide her hypocrisy of publicizing her brand as one of empowerment and body positivity while privately depriving women of their empowerment,” they add. “Lizzo certainly isn’t empowering women by way of her threats, rather she is disenfranchising them, but this lawsuit isn’t just about her. This sort of behavior is pervasive in the entertainment industry. That doesn’t make it right, and it’s still illegal.” Keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Lizzo.

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14 Of Lizzo’s Dancers Already Got Settlements Prior To Latest Lawsuit

August 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

More information continues to roll out in this ever-lasting lawsuit surrounding Lizzo. The latest news is that 14 of the singer’s dancers were granted a separate settlement from the footage from the 2022 documentary Love, Lizzo. Reportedly, Slay Smiles, the dance group’s manager brought this to the surface back in January. He claims that the uncomfortable and intimate discussions around misogyny, weight-shaming, and racism, really hurt the dancers deeply. It was also cleared for use in the documentary, but reached the final product.

Furthermore, Smiles went on to say that the documentary (and effectively Lizzo), exposed his crew. He says it, “truly exploited these women and violated the emotional safety they had in those moments.” The end result between Smiles, his dancers, the co-producers of the company Boardwalk Pictures, and a “Lizzo entity” was a settlement. However, there is still more to unpack.

What Will Happen Next In This Lizzo Debacle?

Additionally, Smiles also says that not a single contract was brought to his attention, or to the dancers for behind-the-scenes footage. The total payout of the settlement was around $110,000. Furthermore, $7000 was the rough amount that each dancer received. Of course, Lizzo, her attorney, and others around her are deflecting, saying the dancers were aware of everything going on. It is a sticky situation, to say the least, and one that will continue to produce more debate and discussion.

What are your initial thoughts on more dancers receiving settlements before the lawsuit? Do you think Lizzo will ever be able to live this down, or will it pass by? Furthermore, what are your thoughts on all of these different reports and claims surrounding this situation? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

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Lizzo’s Lawsuit Response Rejected As “Dismissive” By Former Dancers

August 3, 2023 by newhiphopnews

A few days ago the popular music world was shocked by a new lawsuit aimed at Lizzo. The lawsuit claimed sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment. Subsequently, details of the “About Damn Time” singer accusing her dancers of drinking too much and forcing them to suffer through a excruciating audition surprised those who have long followed her positive messages. In particular, one detail about the singer berating a dancer for gaining weight caught plenty of attention. She has long been a beacon for body positivity so fans eagerly awaited her responses to the claims.

That response came this morning in a series of slides posted to Lizzo’s Instagram. ““My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed,” it reads. She claimed the criticism was coming from dancers who had already publicly admitted that their behavior was inappropriate. She called the claims sensationalized and clarified her approach to collaborating. “It’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”

Lizzo Responds To Lawsuit

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Now according to Page Six, the dancers have responded to Lizzo’s statement. “Lizzo has failed her own brand and has let down her fans,” their response begins. “Her denial of this reprehensible behavior only adds to our clients’ emotional distress.” They called her statement “dismissive” and “quite telling about her character. They concluded their response with continued critique of her behavior. “While Lizzo notes it was never her intention ‘to make anyone feel uncomfortable,’ that is exactly what she did to the point of demoralizing her dancers and flagrantly violating the law.”

In the days following the lawsuit being made public there was plenty more drama for Lizzo. Many fans interpreted Beyonce skipping over her name during a recent Renaissance show as a diss. Though Tina Knowles came out in an attempt to dispel those rumors. What do you think of the dancers response Lizzo’s statement? Let us know in the comment section below.

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