Lizzo Accepts Humanitarian Award on the Heels of Another Lawsuit

Lizzo has been sued again, this time by a former employee in her wardrobe department. The complaint, handled by the same legal team representing three dancers who previously filed legal action against the performer and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, alleged that Lizzo’s wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura was verbally and physically abusive to her staff member Asha Daniels. Along with Lizzo and Nomura, the suit names Lizzo’s production company and tour manager, Carlina Gugliotta, as defendants.

Daniels alleges in the suit that during the 2023 tour, Nomura would “mock both Lizzo and Lizzo’s background dancers on multiple occasions. Nomura would imitate the dancers and Lizzo by doing an offensive stereotypical impression of a Black woman. Nomura would also refer to Black women on the tour as ‘dumb,’ ‘useless,’ and ‘fat.’” She also allegedly shoved Daniels into a clothing rack, which injured her foot, and would not allow her to wear orthopedic shoes on the job to reduce her foot pain. Daniels blames the work culture on Lizzo and claims her company was aware of the conditions Daniels worked under. 

“Lizzo’s Management was well aware of this pattern of behavior,” the complaint reads. “Lizzo’s tour manager even requested Plaintiff to record Nomura without her knowledge, which Plaintiff did not do as it was both unethical and possibly unlawful.”

Stefan Friedman, Lizzo’s spokesperson, responded to the suit with a statement: 

As Lizzo receives a Humanitarian Award tonight from the Black Music Action Coalition for the incredible charitable work she has done to lift up all people, an ambulance-chasing lawyer tries to sully this honor by recruiting someone to file a bogus, absurd publicity-stunt lawsuit who—wait for it—never actually met or even spoke with Lizzo. We will pay this as much attention as it deserves. None.

Friedman is referring to the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the 2023 Black Music Action Coalition Gala on Thursday. Lizzo received the award for her $250,000 donations to The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Black Girls Smile, and the Sphinx Organization in June, among other philanthropic organizations. The performer’s current “Big Grrrls” and “Big Boys” dancers presented her with the award before she gave her acceptance speech. Nomura and Gugliotta did not immediately respond to VF‘s requests for comment.

“It’s easy to do the right thing when everybody’s watching you, and it’s what you do in those moments where nobody’s watching that defines who you are,” the performer said. “I’m going to continue to be who I am, no matter who’s watching. 

“I’m going to continue to shine a light on the people who are helping people because they deserve it,” she continued. “I’m going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it. And I’m going to continue to put on and represent and create safe spaces for Black fat women because that’s what the fuck I do.”

Lizzo is also facing a lawsuit from three of her former dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez. They claim a series of workplace transgressions and sued after they were fired from or left the company. They sued Lizzo for failing to prevent sexual or religious harassment, disability discrimination, and assault, and added her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, and Shirlene Quigley, captain of her dance team, as defendants. 

Lizzo has vigorously denied all of the dancer’s allegations against herself and her company in a statement posted to Instagram and through her lawyer Marty Singer. She called the claims “unbelievable.” Quigley has said the accusations against her are “baseless” and “profoundly hurtful.” In August, after the allegation, Lizzo’s current dancers also released a statement defending their employer.