Lizzo continues to make headlines a week after she was sued by three former dancers for sexual harassment, facilitating a hostile work environment and other troubling allegations. The Grammy winner has denied any wrongdoing. As the controversy unfolds, there are more questions than answers.
Do you offer more dancers? Does the lawsuit have anything to do with the cancellation of the Made in America music festival? And what does this mean for the singer’s positive brand and long-term reputation?
Here’s the latest…
Are there more suspects?
Last week, Ariana Davis, Krystal Williams, and Noel Rodriguez sued her production company (Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc.) and the company of Shirlene Quigley, the captain of her dance team. In the complaint, seen by Yahoo Entertainment, they alleged that they were weight-shamed and subjected to religious and racial harassment, assault, and false imprisonment, among other allegations. (Not all allegations have been made against every defendant.) The law firm representing Davis, Williams and Rodriguez says other people have come forward with similar allegations.
“We’ve received at least six inquiries from other people with similar stories since we filed the complaint,” said Ron Zambrano, Partner and Head of Employment Litigation at West coast employment attorneys, to Yahoo Entertainment on Wednesday. “Noel, Krystal and Ariana have bravely spoken out and shared their experiences, opening the door for others to feel empowered to do the same. Some of the allegations we are reviewing include allegations of a sexually charged environment, non-payment of staff and perhaps action could be taken, but it is too soon to say.”
Yahoo is unable to independently verify the identities of the six people referred to in Zambrano. It’s also unclear if the above allegations relate to Lizzo or the other defendants in the lawsuit. The law firm is in the process of reviewing and says it is very preliminary to determine whether anyone else will join.
Was the Made in America festival canceled because of the scandal?
On Tuesday, it was announced that the long-running music festival in Philadelphia, founded by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Entertainment, will not happen in 2023. In a statement, the organizers announced Quote “Extreme conditions beyond the control of production.” Lizzo was scheduled to be a headliner during the Sept. 2-3 event, and naturally, some wondered if the controversy surrounding the singer was the reason for his exclusion. A source close to the situation told Yahoo that the lawsuit had nothing to do with the cancellation of Made in America.
How bad is this for Lizzo’s image?
Forbes She thinks “this controversy threatens the very core of her brand” — and experts seem to agree. Yahoo Entertainment spoke with two crisis PR executives who broke it down.
“The current scandal surrounding Lizzo is so shocking because so much of what she is accused of — workplace harassment, weight shaming, and sexual harassment — runs counter to the platform of inclusivity, acceptance, and general positivity that Lizzo has publicly built for herself,” Ron Torosian, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors 5WPR, he explains. “These allegations would be nasty if leveled against anyone, but bringing them against Lizzo brings an additional sense of disappointment to her fans and the public.”
While Torossian says that “all allegations are disturbing,” the “most damaging” allegation is sexual harassment.
“You could argue that she is a hard worker and expects her employees, in this case her dancers, to meet a standard of work ethic and dedication and represent the brand in a certain way. But there are circumstances that no one should expect them to accept in their workplace, including sexual and religious harassment.” (The religious harassment allegation includes Quigley.)
What did Lizu say?
The 35-year-old singer has not spoken publicly since her first statement, in which she denied all accusations.
“My work ethic, ethics and respect have been questioned. My character has been criticized. I usually choose not to respond to false allegations, but they are as incredible as they sound and too outrageous to address,” she said last week.
“These sensational stories come from former employees who have publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional,” Lizzo added, noting that she has “high standards” when it comes to her employees. “Sometimes I have to make tough decisions but it is never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or not valued as an important part of the team.”
Rodriguez, Davis, and Williams criticized Lizzo’s response, accusing her of “gaslighting”. Judah Engelmayer, President Herald PRCrisis Communications called the statement “outrageous” and “almost dismissive”.
“She needs to work harder at apologizing and she seems to mean it and understands what she did,” he adds. “This is not very likely in the short term.”
At the same time, Torossian notes: “Because this is a lawsuit that could lead to a formal trial, you should be aware that any statements you make publicly from this point forward, could potentially harm her defense.”
Will Lizzo be cancelled?
The short answer is no.
“She will always have fans, and depending on how this happens legally, she will probably enjoy a successful career for years to come. But there will always be a large population of residents who will never forgive her and never let her forget this,” says Torossian. However, he adds, even celebrities of Lizzo’s caliber “didn’t emerge entirely unscathed.”
Engelmayer believes that “unless an avalanche of more complaints comes along,” Lizzo will survive the scandal, which he calls “neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm” in relation to the celebrity controversy.
“Lizzo could capitalize on her reputation as an ex-respecter of the various social, racial, gender, and body-positive roles she played,” Engelmayer says, but believes that if there are “more allegations, it becomes more difficult to recover.” And if there are legal consequences, even civil ones, “the impact will deepen.”
Engelmeyer sees a path back to the star, and if he advises her to do so, this is what he’ll say: “You’re in the public domain, and you’ve made your career not just a music sensation, but a public advocate for body image, women, and LGBT people among others. You have to.” To consciously live your life as if you were in a bubble being watched and judged.Yes, you are human and prone to human failure, but when you create your image as an advocate, you take on more responsibility and must understand the consequences of being in fact, something less than what you preach.Apologize genuinely Express true understanding of the failures and issues, swallow your pride, and just show empathy.”
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