Lizzo, the Grammy-winning pop star, is facing another lawsuit from a former employee, Asha Daniels, who worked as a costume designer for Lizzo's 2023 tour. Daniels has accused Lizzo of creating a hostile work environment that was both sexually charged and racially insensitive. In the lawsuit, Daniels specifically named Lizzo's wardrobe manager, Amanda Nomura, as the primary source of bullying and harassment. According to Daniels, Nomura would force performers to change in front of men who would lewdly gawk at them. Nomura also allegedly made offensive impressions of Black women and referred to them as "fat," "useless," and "dumb."
Daniels claims that she was fired after she complained about Nomura's behavior. She believes that Lizzo, as the boss, is ultimately responsible for creating an environment that condones such conduct. Daniels' lawyer, Ronald Zambrano, stated that Lizzo is aware of what is happening but chooses not to intervene. He described the behavior as "disgusting and illegal," and accused Lizzo of participating in it herself.
In response to the lawsuit, Lizzo's representative, Stefan Friedman, dismissed it as an "absurd publicity stunt." He emphasized that the plaintiff, Asha Daniels, had never actually met or spoken with Lizzo and accused her of being recruited by an ambulance-chasing lawyer. Friedman stated that they would pay the lawsuit as much attention as it deserves, which is none.
According to Daniels, her experience working with Lizzo and her team led to constant panic attacks and anxiety. She has also experienced ongoing symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the tour, including migraines and migraine-induced eye twitch, ocular distortions, brain fog, and fatigue.
This is not the first time Lizzo has faced accusations of mistreatment in the workplace. Earlier this year, three of Lizzo's backup dancers filed a lawsuit claiming that they were subjected to sexual harassment, fat-shaming, and unprofessional behavior. The dancers alleged that they were pressured to touch a nude performer at an Amsterdam nightclub, endured an excruciating audition, and were prevented from finding work outside the tour.
Daniels' lawyer, Ronald Zambrano, also represented the dancers in their lawsuit against Lizzo. He expressed shock at the treatment the performers received, stating that it went against everything Lizzo publicly stands for. Zambrano described Lizzo's behavior as illegal and demoralizing.
In response to the earlier lawsuit, Lizzo denied the allegations and insisted that she never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable or undervalued. She acknowledged that she holds high standards but denied being a villain or a victim.
The recent lawsuit filed by Asha Daniels adds to the growing list of allegations against Lizzo. The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of a toxic workplace environment where racial and sexual harassment were rampant. Daniels claims that Lizzo's management was aware of the behavior but did nothing to address it.
As the legal battle unfolds, Lizzo's reputation is at stake. The allegations against her threaten to tarnish the image she has cultivated as a body-positive and empowering artist. It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will impact Lizzo's career and public perception.
