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Lizzo, the woman you see in the above photo, has been accused by her dancers of engaging in fat shaming and other forms of mistreatment.
According to a lawsuit that was filed by three of her former dancers, the 35-year-old singer is being accused of “sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and fat shaming.”
Additionally, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Lizzo allege that she “pressured one of them to touch a nude performer at an Amsterdam club and subjected the group to an ‘excruciating’ audition after leveling false accusations that they were drinking on the job,” according to NBC News.
In response to the allegations, Lizzo has released a lengthy official statement in which she says the accusations are a “gut punch” and “overwhelmingly disappointing.”
You can find Lizzo’s statement in its entirety below.
“These last few days have been gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually, I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelieve as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed,” Lizzo’s statement begins.
“These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional. As an artist, I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because, at the end of the day, I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes, I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”
Lizzo then specifically addressed the allegations of fat shaming, saying that because she knows what that feels like, she would never do it to someone else.
“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. 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. There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. 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.”
The statement then concludes with Lizzo thanking everyone who has “reached out in support” during this “difficult time.”
“I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, the 35-year-old Lizzo has released four albums thus far: Lizzobangers (2013), Big Grrrl Small World (2015), Cuz I Love You (2019), and Special (2022). She’s perhaps best known for her singles “Truth Hurts” and “About Damn Time”.