Lizzo Breaks Silence and Says She Was 'Blindsided' by Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: 'I Did Nothing Wrong'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lizzois speaking out.

In the interview, Lizzo said she “needed time to process” after a whirlwind 2023 where she had her first arena tour with herWatch Out for the Big Grrrlsdancers.“I was literally living in my dream, and then the tour ended, and three ex-dancers just completely, like, blindsided me with a lawsuit,” she told the host, 31.

“I was very deeply hurt because these were three ex-dancers, so they weren’t on the tour. They didn’t, like, finish the tour out with us. But even regardless of that, these were people that I gave opportunities to,” she said.

Lizzo in Los Angeles in February 2024.Johnny Nunez/Getty

Johnny Nunez/Getty

Added Lizzo: “These were people that — I liked them and appreciated them as dancers, respected them as dancers. So I was like,what? But then I heard all the other things like sexual harassment, and I was like, they’re trying well, I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but these are the types of things that the media can turn into something that it’s not.”

She added that she has “no regrets” but is taking this experience with her on her journey as a boss moving forward.

“Let’s be clear, I did nothing wrong,” Lizzo said.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleged that Lizzo pressured her backup dancers to touch nude performers at an Amsterdam club. They also alleged that Lizzo often weight-shamed them. They claimed that Lizzo’s Big Grrrl touring company subjected them to racial harassment when it allegedly “treated the Black members of the dance team differently than other members.”

Lizzo laterbroke her silence on the allegations via Instagram, vehemently denying the claims against her.

“My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned," she wrote in part. “My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed.”

She added, “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.”

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“I was witnessing myself, the dancers and the background vocalists and my local team in every city be harassed and bullied regularly,” Danielstold NBC Newsin September 2023.

Lizzo also denied those allegations,calling them “meritless and salacious” in a motion where she asked for the complaint to be dismissed. She was removed as a defendant in Daniels' case earlier this month, theBBCandRolling Stonereported. A judge determined that Daniels could not name Lizzo as an individual since she listed Lizzo’s payroll and touring companies as her employers.

On the podcast, Lizzo said she was “dismissed” from the Daniels lawsuit and that the case was “not dropped.”

“A judge saw this, and in the court of law, he looked at the evidence and said, ‘OK. We can’t allow this to go through,'” she told Palmer, though Daniels’ lawyer Ron Zambrano clarified Lizzo’s explanation of the ruling is incorrect.

Zambrano added, “It had nothing to do with the merits of the claims. The lawsuit still moves forward against Lizzo’s company, Big Grrl Touring, as to all claims except for the overtime allegation. The Ninth Cause of Action for Unpaid Overtime was also dismissed for jurisdictional, not evidentiary reasons, given claims for unpaid overtime only apply for work done within the United States. Lizzo and her tour manager will still be deposed in connection with the lawsuit.”

Lizzo in Laguna Niguel in October 2024.Presley Ann/Getty

Presley Ann/Getty

In recent days, Lizzo has beenfocused on her physical and mental health. In April, she suggested she wasquitting the music industry. However, she then clarified that it isnegativity she’s leaving behind.

She wrote in part on Instagram, “What I’m not going to quit is the joy of my life which is making music, which is connecting with people because I know I’m not alone. In no way shape or form am I the only person who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com