Lizzo's Legal Team Exposes Jaw-Dropping Twist in Accuser's Allegations

Lizzo and Arianna Davis MediaPunch/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Arianna Davis/Instagram

Lizzo's attorney, Marty Singer, is responding to allegations made by one of the musician's ex-dancers, claiming she created a hostile work environment.

Singer's statement comes after TMZ obtained a video of Arianna Davis, one of the three women who recently filed a lawsuit against Lizzo on August 1st. In the video, Davis is seen praising the "Truth Hurts" singer during an audition for the second season of Lizzo's show, "Watch Out for the Big Grrrls."

According to the outlet, Davis, in her audition tape, expressed her admiration for Lizzo and her desire to emulate her success. The tape was filmed in April, following the incidents mentioned in the lawsuit.

Singer, in response to the tape, stated that Davis' words do not align with someone who has experienced harassment or discrimination from someone they regard highly, such as Lizzo. He further emphasized that the video provides evidence that disproves the legitimacy of the claims made in the lawsuit. Singer remains confident that Lizzo will be exonerated in this case.

Davis issued a statement to We in response to the resurfacing of her audition tape. In the statement, she expressed that she refrained from speaking negatively about the camp while she was still a part of it. However, she admitted that she had not realized the extent of the detrimental situation and how she was being taken advantage of until the last minute. Davis genuinely wanted to preserve her job, as stated in her statement. She emphasized that the video served to illustrate her efforts to please Lizzo, but the work environment was toxic. Despite enduring abuse, Davis continued striving to please Lizzo and convince her of her worth. The video was created before the majority of the allegations surfaced, as Davis saw it as a desperate attempt to showcase her loyalty and dedication to Lizzo and her team.

Following the circulation of the clip on Twitter, some users on social media also came to Davis' defense.

"I'm disgusted by how her team is resorting to these tactics to demonize the victims. They should reserve these claims for the courtroom. This evidence does not prove anything except the fact that, like any other person, she had to earn a living to support herself," criticized a Twitter user.

Adding to the conversation, another user commented, "This is not convincing at all. She pretended for personal gain. Are these the best arguments her lawyers could come up with? It's definitely not looking good for Lizzo."

Lizzo addressed the allegations, which include religious harassment, disability discrimination, and sexual harassment, on Thursday. In a lengthy Instagram statement, she expressed her disappointment and outlined that her work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. She firmly dismissed the claims made in the lawsuit as false and too outrageous not to be acknowledged.

Furthermore, she pointed out that the sensationalized stories originate from former employees who have already admitted their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional. While she refused to be seen as a victim, she also emphasized that she is not the villain portrayed by people and the media in recent days.

Lizzo empathetically stated her understanding of what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis, assuring that she would never criticize or terminate an employee based on their weight.

Following the statement made by the musician known as "About Damn Time," attorney Ron Zambrano, who represents Lizzo's former dancers Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, responded with a statement to Us.

Zambrano's statement read, "Lizzo has failed to uphold her own brand and has disappointed her fans. Her denial of these reprehensible actions only deepens the emotional distress experienced by our clients. The dismissive remarks and lack of empathy displayed reveal much about her character and only serve to downplay the harm she has caused to the plaintiffs and other employees who have now come forward to share their own negative experiences. Although Lizzo claims that it was never her intention 'to make anyone feel uncomfortable,' that is precisely what she did, to the extent of demoralizing her dancers and brazenly violating the law."

In addition to Lizzo, the suit also names the Grammy winner’s tour company Big Grrrrl Big Touring, Inc. (BGBT) and dance captain Shirlene Quigley.