Lizzo plans to countersue dancers who accused her of harassment for 'hypocritical behavior'
US performer Lizzo is set to file a countersuit against several of her former dancers for their "hypocritical behavior" after they accused her of creating a hostile work environment filled with sexual, racial and religious harassment.
According to PEOPLE, the musician will sue plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez as evidence such as photos and videos showed them "happily cavorting backstage" with performers from Crazy Horse's topless cabaret show on March 5 in Paris.
This was after they accused Lizzo of pressuring them to attend the performance and take turns touching the nude performers.
"These images showing the three plaintiffs gleefully reveling backstage after the topless show were taken after their February 2023 visit to Bananenbar in Amsterdam that they complain about in their lawsuit," wrote Lizzo's lawyer, Marty Singer, in a statement.
He also pointed out how Davis allegedly claimed that she wants to "follow in [Lizzo's] footsteps" in an audition tape she allegedly submitted to the rapper's TV show Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.
"After Ms. Davis’s audition video became public, she tried to explain away her glowing comments about Lizzo by claiming the 'bulk' of her accusations were based on things that happened later. That excuse is completely contradicted by the facts, including by these images," Singer stated.
He emphasized that the lawsuit is a "sham" as the photos and videos are proof that there are contradictions between "what the plaintiffs claim in their bogus lawsuit and what is actually proven by the facts."
Despite this, the dancers' attorney, Neama Rahmani, told PEOPLE that they are maintaining their allegations in the lawsuit and are "looking foward to the trial."
"Our clients aren’t afraid of Singer or his empty threats or his victim shaming," Rahmani wrote. "I’ve handled thousands of cases, including prosecuting drug cartels so we have no plans to back down. Let’s see if Singer can actually try a case in a courtroom instead of the media."
On the plaintiffs' alleged hypocritical behavior, Rahmani explained that they "merely wanted to keep their jobs until they finally had enough. Arianna, Noelle and Crystal were brave enough to come out with their stories and they don’t plan to back down in the face of these bullying tactics by Lizzo’s attorney."
The suit filed in Los Angeles accuses Lizzo as well as other defendants of various violations of California labor law.
She allegedly overworked her group of dancers and asked them to audition again after an "excruciating" 12-hour rehearsal. "If Lizzo was dissatisfied with their performances, the suit alleges, the dancers would be fired and sent home."
It was also reported that the singer, who has been known as a body positivity advocate, allegedly pointed out a dancer's weight gain and later berated and fired her "after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition."
