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Lizzo’s appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday came under fire from the lawyer representing three dancers who accused the singer of sexual harassment.
In what was a controversial choice for organizers, Lizzo, 35, whose full name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, appeared in front of millions of people to present the award for Best R&B Song.
Attorney Neama Rahmani, who represents Lizzo’s accusers, questioned why the Recording Academy gave the singer that platform amid the controversy.
Neama said TMZ He was disappointed that the singer had been given the job of presenting the award, given the civil lawsuit she faces.
The lawyer claimed bosses were “turning a blind eye because she is a woman”. Lizzo, who has denied “each and every accusation” brought against her by dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez in September, came out to applaud.
The singer, who has stepped out of the spotlight in recent months, even danced to her own song, About Damn Time, briefly before performing.
MailOnline has contacted the Recording Academy for comment.
The Grammy-winning vocalist said in response to the lawsuit that Davis, Williams and Rodriguez were “guilty of dirty hands” as they had committed ethical violations regarding the lawsuit.
In August, Davis, Williams and Rodriguez said in a court filing that Lizzo pressured them to interact with nude performers at an Amsterdam club; and she shamed one of them for her weight gain before dismissing her.
In the civil lawsuit filed Aug. 1, the trio accused Lizzo of pressuring her dancers to physically engage with sex workers at a club in Amsterdam’s Red Light District last February while they were on tour in the area.
The plaintiffs brought numerous charges, including sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and names Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the artist’s dance team.
Court filed lawsuits After performing a concert in Amsterdam, Lizzo and her crew attended a sex-themed show at a club in the city’s famous Red Light District, where “Lizzo began inviting cast members to take turns performing.” to naked artists”.
During the show, Lizzo led a chant by pressuring Davis to touch the breasts of one of the naked women performing at the club, according to the document.
The dancers said they were pressured to ‘take turns touching the naked performers, catching dildos thrown from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.
“Eventually, the chorus became overwhelming and the mortified Mrs. Davis complied in an attempt to put an end to the chanting,” the complaint states.
He continued: “Plaintiffs were appalled by the little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many of the people she employed.”
The About Damn Time singer, who has also been sued by a former wardrobe assistant over toxic workplace allegations, said in her response that the dancers who sued her “ratified, accepted, tolerated and/or condoned the acts.” at the time they occurred.
The Good as Hell singer said the contracts the dancers signed when they joined her tour were “subject to arbitration” and gave them the opportunity to “mediate in good faith” before going public with the lawsuit.
Lizzo’s legal team said the artist’s business had implemented “anti-discrimination and harassment grievance policies and procedures” that dancers “failed to follow” through internal protocols.
Lizzo said there was no evidence that the dancers suffered harm or loss due to the singer’s actions.
A spokesman for the singer, Stefan Friedman, said the artist would vigorously defend herself against the allegations.
“This is the first step in a legal process in which Lizzo and her team will demonstrate that they have always practiced what they have preached,” Friedman said. ‘Whether it’s promoting body positivity, leading a safe and supportive workplace or protecting people from any type of harassment.
“Any and all claims to the contrary are ridiculous and we look forward to proving this in a court of law.”
The lawyer representing the dancers, Neama Rahmani, told DailyMail.com in a statement that “Lizzo’s response consists simply of boilerplate objections that have nothing to do with the case.”
Rahmani said “the key takeaway” from the recent legal proceedings “is that Lizzo is agreeing to our clients’ demand for a jury trial.”
“We look forward to presenting our case to the court and letting a panel of their peers decide who is telling the truth, Lizzo and her team who continue to shame victims or plaintiffs and so many others who have come forward sharing similar stories of abuse. and harassment.”
In a rebuttal statement she posted on Instagram last month, Lizzo called the allegations “sensational” and said the dancers who sued her “have already publicly admitted that they were told her behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
She added: “I normally choose not to respond to false accusations, but they are as unbelievable as they seem and too outrageous not to address… I am hurt, but I will not let the good work I have done in the world go to waste.” overshadowed by this.”