LIZZO finally broke her silence on the allegations of sexual harassment hurled against her.
After her former dancers complained about her conduct, the American rapper and singer released a lengthy statement denying any wrongdoing.
In a social media post, Lizzo said the sexual harassment and weight-shaming she supposedly committed were nothing but “false allegations” and “sensationalized stories.”
She added that the allegations mentioned in the lawsuit, which states that she and her company fostered a hostile work environment that includes religious and racial discrimination, were “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
Although she emphasized in the statement that she does not intend to be seen as the victim, she firmly said that she was not the villain she was being painted to be by her detractors.
“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,” she wrote.
“I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not,” she added.
The About Damn Time hitmaker specifically addressed one of the allegations in the case, which said that one of her former employees was singled out and was called out by Lizzo for gaining weight.
The body-shaming accusation was a weighted allegation, especially for a singer who has made body positivity her personal music brand.
“There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world,” Lizzo said. “I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”
At the end of the statement, the singer admitted she was hurt by the controversy. But she said that she would not let her work be shrouded by the harassment issue.
She also thanked the people who supported her during this difficult time.
The allegations
Three of Lizzo’s former dancers — Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez — filed a lawsuit against the singer and her label Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. on Tuesday alleging wide-ranging legal misconduct.
They claimed that the singer forced them to attend a sex show in Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District. She also allegedly pressured them to engage with the performers.
The lawsuit stated that Lizzo specifically pushed the dancers to eat “bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.”
Other allegations include outbursts from the singer, including an “excruciating re-audition” in April after pointing fingers at her dancers for “drinking alcohol before shows.”
READ: Lizzo accused of weight-shaming and harassment, fans disappointed
