Lizzo cleared as individual in harassment lawsuit

Lizzo has secured a significant legal victory in her ongoing dispute with a stylist. The stylist alleges she experienced racial and sexual harassment, a hostile work environment from the singer’s management team during a 2023 tour, and unpaid overtime. A federal judge in Los Angeles determined on Monday that wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels could not pursue legal action against the Grammy-winning artist personally, having identified the singer’s touring and payroll companies as her employers. Nevertheless, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc remains a defendant in the continuing case. US District Judge Fernando L Aenlle-Rocha dismissed all seven charges brought against Lizzo, as well as those pertaining to her tour manager, Carlina Gugliotta. The judge also approved a partial dismissal of several claims because Daniels was employed by the company while on tour in Europe, where U.S. employment regulations are not applicable. Fashion designer Daniels asserts that Lizzo fostered an “unsafe, sexually charged workplace culture,” an accusation the singer has denied. Daniels further accused the star’s wardrobe manager of making “racist and fatphobic” comments and ridiculing Black women within the entourage. A spokesperson for the singer characterized the lawsuit as an “absurd publicity stunt.” Her legal representatives described Daniels as a “disgruntled” former employee whose claims were “meritless and salacious.” Lizzo, celebrated for songs such as Truth Hurts and Juice, built her public image on body positivity. However, last year, she became the subject of multiple similar allegations. Daniels’ lawsuit mirrors earlier accusations made by three of Lizzo’s former tour dancers, who filed a lawsuit against the artist in August of last year, citing sexual harassment and fat-shaming across several incidents in 2021 and 2023. At the time, Lizzo issued a statement denying these allegations, stating: “These sensationalised stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behaviour on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.” Both the star and her company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, have petitioned the court to dismiss the dancers’ allegations. The dancers, in turn, are seeking a jury trial. In April of this year, Lizzo, whose birth name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, reassured her online followers that she had no plans to withdraw from public life soon. She had previously posted “I quit,” expressing frustration over being targeted online for her appearance and character. However, she later clarified in a new video: “When I say ‘I quit’, I mean I quit giving any negative energy attention.”