Lizzo is denying allegations made in a lawsuit that says she allegedly pressured and weight shaming her former dancers, calling the accusations “sensationalized stories.”
“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” she said in an Instagram post. “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized.”
The singer continued that typically, she doesn’t address “false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed.”
In the suit, obtained by USA TODAY after it was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, plaintiffs Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez claim they were victims of sexual, racial and religious harassment, assault, false imprisonment and disability discrimination, in addition to other allegations.
Lizzo (born Melissa Viviane Jefferson), Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., along with Shirlene Quigley, who is Lizzo’s dance team captain and judge on her Amazon series “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” are named as defendants, though not all the allegations pertain to each of them.
“I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days,” Lizzo said.
Contributing: Naledi Ushe
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lizzo lawsuit: Singer denies ‘false’ allegations from former dancers
