Dancers suing Lizzo call musician's 'I quit' post 'a joke': 'She continues to blame everyone else'

An attorney for the three backup dancers says Lizzo is "desperately trying to play the victim."

The three backup dancers suing Lizzo for alleged sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment have issued a statement slamming the singer's recent Instagram post that expressed frustration over public criticism she's faced.

On Monday, three days after Lizzo told fans that she was fed up with being targeted online and cryptically wrote, "I quit," the dancers' Los Angeles-based attorney Ron Zambrano said in a blistering statement, "It's a joke that Lizzo would say she is being bullied by the internet when she should instead be taking an honest look at herself. Her latest post is just another outburst seeking attention and trying to deflect from her own failings as she continues to blame everyone else for the predicament she is in. Lizzo's legal and public relations strategy is a failure, so she is desperately trying to play the victim."

Adding that Lizzo has "thrown these childish tantrums before," Zambrano said, "No one actually believes she is quitting music."

A spokesperson for Lizzo, Stefan Friedman, responded to Zambrano in a statement provided to EW: "With nearly half his case dismissed, 18 independent witnesses siding with Lizzo and no settlement on the way to get him his tasty contingency fee, Ron has started making wild personal attacks that have absolutely nothing to do with the clients who he is supposedly representing. We would humbly recommend that Ron start representing his clients and stop representing just himself."

A four-time Grammy winner who built her platform on good vibes and body positivity, Lizzo, 35, has been embroiled in controversy since August, when her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez filed a lawsuit against her, her production company, and her dance captain for alleged sexual harassment, weight-shaming, racial discrimination, and creating a toxic workplace.

Lizzo has denied the accusations, saying in a statement last year, "Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. 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."

In an Instagram post Friday, the "Truth Hurts" singer vented her frustration with being "dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet." She added, "I'm constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views. Being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look. My character being picked apart by people who don't know me and disrespecting my name. I didn't sign up for this s---. I quit."

While she did not clarify whether she intends to quit the music industry at large or merely get off social media, it wasn't the first time Lizzo floated the idea of stepping back from her music career. In June, she admitted that she was contemplating quitting music after fielding a stream of body-shaming remarks online.

Zambrano's statement Monday on behalf of the three dancers continued, "[Lizzo] can make all of this go away simply by seizing the opportunity here to set an example, own up to her mistakes, pay what's due to those she's wronged and work on becoming a better person."

In September, Lizzo accepted a humanitarian award from the Black Music Action Coalition while her current dance troupe stood behind her in solidarity. She recently attended the 2024 Grammy Awards but has not announced any plans to release new music. Earlier this year, a Los Angeles judge rejected the singer's request to dismiss the lawsuit against her, though some allegations were dropped, including one dancer's claims of being fat-shamed.

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Related content:

• Lizzo sued by former backup dancers who accuse her of sexual harassment, 'hostile work environment'

• Lizzo says she's close to 'giving up' and 'quitting' music over body-shaming tweets: 'F--- y'all'

• Lizzo responds to 'outrageous' sexual harassment lawsuit: 'I am not the villain'
  

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