Melissa Viviane Jefferson, who is the artist’s real name, was sued earlier this week by her former dancers who claim that Lizzo and her production company have created an unhealthy work environment.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in a Los Angeles court, the dancers allegedly suffered a series of violations while employed by Lizzo. This includes, among other things, sexual harassment, discrimination and mockery of weight.
Now the world star breaks the silence and rejects the accusations, which she believes are false and “exaggerated”.
“A huge disappointment”
“Usually I don’t respond to false accusations, but they are too unreasonable and too gross not to respond,” she writes in a post on Instagram.
“The last few days have been extremely difficult and a huge disappointment. My work ethic and behavior have been questioned. My character has been criticized,” she continues.
Among other things, Lizzo allegedly forced the dancers to touch naked women and men at a strip club in Amsterdam, during a world tour earlier this year. That same night, she also allegedly encouraged the dancers to “catch dildos from the show performers’ vaginas” and to “eat bananas from their vaginas.”
The artist has become known for her body positivity, feminism and encouraging her fans to be themselves.