Lizzo has accepted the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award shortly after being named in a one other lawsuit – whereas additionally delivering a speech that appeared to reference her present authorized troubles.
On Thursday (September 21), Lizzo was hit with a lawsuit claiming that racial discrimination, bullying, and harassment had occurred in her workforce. That is the second lawsuit in opposition to the artist in current occasions; final month, a lawsuit filed by three of her backup dancers alleged the singer had sexually harassed her dancers and created a hostile work atmosphere, amongst different claims.
However yesterday, new allegations of bullying have been raised in opposition to Lizzo’s workforce. Asha Daniels, a former designer for Lizzo, claimed that Lizzo’s wardrobe supervisor Amanda Nomura had known as the backup dancers “fats,” “ineffective” and “dumb”. Nomura was additionally accused of constructing stereotypical impressions of Black girls and forcing them to alter in entrance of a largely white, male crew, who would “lewdly gawk” on the dancers.
Daniels’ lawyer Ron Zambrano stated: “Lizzo is the boss, so the buck stops together with her.”
Later that day, Lizzo attended the Black Music Motion Coalition Gala to just accept the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award. Although she didn’t seem on the Black Carpet, she did arrive on stage to be offered with the award by a few of her backup dancers, collectively generally known as the ‘Massive Grrls’ and ‘Massive Boiis’. Sure dancers have beforehand praised the singer in an open letter, written on August 18.
After watching a video montage of Lizzo’s earlier humanitarian efforts involving her assist for LGBTQ+ rights and Deliberate Parenthood, the singer made a speech.
“Black Music Motion Coalition, y’all actually are about that motion,” she started. “Thanks a lot for this, as a result of I wanted this proper now. God’s timing is all the time on time! I didn’t write a speech as a result of I don’t know what to say in occasions like these.”
After talking about her historical past of philanthropy, she continued: “It’s simple to do the precise factor when all people’s watching you, and it’s what you do in these moments when no person’s watching that defines who you’re. And I’m going to proceed to be who I’m, irrespective of who’s watching. I’m going to proceed to shine a light-weight on the people who find themselves serving to individuals, as a result of they deserve it. I’m going to proceed to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals as a result of I’ve a microphone and I understand how to make use of it.”
“And, I’m going to proceed to placed on and symbolize secure areas for fats Black girls, as a result of that’s what the fuck I do!”
Thus far, Lizzo has denied all claims introduced by each lawsuits. A spokesperson for Lizzo responded to the latest lawsuit, calling it “a bogus, absurd publicity-stunt” from an individual who “by no means really met and even spoke with Lizzo.”
They additional added: “We pays this as a lot consideration because it deserves. None.”
Lizzo additionally personally responded to the unique lawsuit on August 3, the place she wrote a prolonged Instagram publish. “Often I select not to answer false allegations however these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed,” she stated. “I’m damage however I cannot let the nice work I’ve performed on this planet be overshadowed by this.”
Lizzo can be planning on suing the unique three dancers for “malicious prosecution”. The singer’s lawyer Martin Singer, who has beforehand represented clinets akin to Invoice Cosby and Johnny Depp, has known as the lawsuit a “sham”.
