"Really inappropriate conduct" - dancers suing Lizzo ready to go to trial, lawyer says

Record ID: 1736706

  • Title: "Really inappropriate conduct" - dancers suing Lizzo ready to go to trial, lawyer says
  • Date: 3rd August 2023
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 3, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEAMA (pron: NEE-ma) RAHMANI, PRESIDENT OF WEST COAST EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS, THE FIRM REPRESENTING THE PLAINTIFFS, SAYING: "The lawsuit has really two broad categories of claims. The first is the sexual harassment -- that Lizzo harassed her employees, created a sexually charged environment where employees were asked to participate in various acts of a sexual nature. They were asked about their virginity and sexual conduct, and sex acts were discussed, including oral sex and masturbation, things that are inappropriate for any workplace. The other category is really a broad category of different discrimination claims, including race discrimination, medical condition discrimination and religious discrimination. And there is a couple counts of assault and false imprisonment related to one of the clients or plaintiffs."
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2023 22:35
  • Keywords: Lizzo dancers hostile environment lawsuit
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music,North America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001213803082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: CONTAINS SEXUAL LANGUAGE AND DESCRIPTION IN SHOT 14
    The head of the law firm representing three dancers suing Grammy-winning singer Lizzo said on Thursday (August 3) that the women were ready to go to trial and excited to tell their story.
    The dancers filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging harassment based on sex, religion, race and disability. The singer created a hostile work environment by engaging in denigrating behavior and body-shaming, the lawsuit says.
    Lizzo denied the claims, calling the accusations "false" and "outrageous."
    “This case could have gone in any of two directions: that Lizzo had apologized and come clean and tried to make amends and maybe there would be some sort of resolution. But now that she's dug her heels in and she's denying that any of this happened, we are happy to present our case to a jury of our peers," said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Employment Lawyers, the law firm representing the dancers.
    The singer, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, said the allegations were made by three former employees who had been told their behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional before they left Lizzo's employment.
    The plaintiffs - Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez - claimed they were coerced into touching nude performers at an Amsterdam strip club in late February.
    Rahmani said he was shocked when he heard the womens’ stories.
    “Really inappropriate conduct. And we intend to prove that it happened. And really no one should be subject to it in any workplace environment. I was shocked," he said.
    (Production: Jane Ross)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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