Celebrity
More Of Lizzo’s Former Employees Back Claims Of Weight-Shaming, Sexual Harassment
Lizzo reportedly compelled dancers to eat bananas from the private parts of s*x workers in Amsterdam.
Hours after three dancers came forward with allegations that the ‘Truth Hurts’ singer subject them to weight-shaming and s*xually denigrating behavior, Lizzo’s former creative director and dancer have equally come forward. Quinn Whitney Wilson and dancer Courtney Hollinquest claim they still grieve part of their experience but applaud the dancer’s courage to bring the subject matter to light.
The women’s backup comments come shortly after Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez accused Lizzo of creating a “s*xually charged and hostile” work environment in a lawsuit.
In the lawsuit filed Tuesday, against the singer and the Big Grrrl Big Touring and dance team captain Shirlene Quigley, the women alleged the singer once pressured Arianna to inappropriately touch a nude performer while in Amsterdam in February 2023. Following the concert, the plaintiffs claim Lizzo then invited them out to the Red-Light District, which is known for its s*x theaters, s*x shops, and nude clubs.
“For clarification, I’m not a part of the lawsuit – but this was very much my experience in my time there,” Hollinquest wrote on her Instagram Story.
She added, “Big shoutout to the dancers who had the courage to bring this to light.” Shortly after, Wilson shared a screenshot of Hollinquest’s statement to her social media page, saying she was “echoing” everything that was already said. “I haven’t been a part of that world for around three years, for a reason,” Wilson wrote. “I very much applaud the dancer’s courage to bring this to light. and I grieve parts of my own experience.”
“I’d appreciate space to understand my feelings,” she concluded. To which, Hollinquest replied, “my sister forever only a few know what we’ve been through … love u Quinn.”
Per NBC News, the woman in the lawsuit claimed once they arrived at the Red Light District, Lizzo allegedly “began inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers, catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.” Lizzo then turned her attention to Arianna and began pressuring her to touch the breasts of one of the nude women.”
While Arinna allegedly told the singer separate times that she didn’t want to touch the nude woman, she claims Lizzo pressured and goaded her into doing it.
Afterward, the “Good as Hell” singer allegedly “badgered a member of her security team to get on stage where she pulled down his pants and hit him with whips, yelling ‘Take it off!’ Per the suit, plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed.
Elsewhere in the suit, the three women allege that employees of the touring company “treated the Black members of the dance team differently than other members.”
“Only the dance cast comprised of full-figured women of color were ever spoken to in this manner, giving Plaintiffs the impression that these comments were charged with racial and fat-phobic animus,” the suit alleges, adding that Lizzo and choreographer Tanisha Scott had allegedly accused Davis of not being committed to her role simply because she had gained weight.
However, the women are suing for general and special damages, including punitive damages and attorney’s fees. Per PageSix, the suit didn’t specify the amount they are asking for, but then the plaintiff’s attorney, Ron Zambrano said in a statement, “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are … absolutely demoralizing.”
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