Just hours after singer Lizzo was sued by three of her former dancers accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, another dancer and a director are making similar accusations.
The 35-year-old singer was sued by her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, alleging that they forced her to perform sex acts with a banana and that she “embarrassed” all of her dancers in private, while taking a public image of herself. body positivity.
After the lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, two more women filed similar claims: dancer Courtney Hollinquest and director Sophia Nahil Allison.
Hollinquest was a backup dancer for the singer, who took to her Instagram story to share an NBC News headline about the lawsuit, before shedding some light on her own experience.
“To clarify, I am not a party to the lawsuit, but this was very much my experience in my time there,” Hollinquest began.
Lawsuit: Just hours after singer Lizzo was sued by three of her former dancers accusing her of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, another dancer and a director are making similar allegations.
Former dancer: Hollinquest was a backup dancer for the singer, who took to her Instagram story to share an NBC News headline about the lawsuit, before shedding some light on her own experience
Experience: “To clarify, I’m not a party to the lawsuit, but this was very much my experience in my time there,” Hollinquest began.
“A big shout out to the dancers who had the courage to bring this to light,” she added, complete with a black praying hand emoji and a black hand heart emoji.
Quinn Wilson, who previously worked as Lizzo’s creative director, also shared Hollinquest’s Instagram story, adding her own perspective.
Echoing what @cquestt said. I haven’t been a part of that world for about three years, for a reason,” Wilson said in his own caption.
“I very much applaud the courage of the dancers to bring this to light. And I regret parts of my own experience. I would appreciate space to understand my feelings,” Wilson concluded.
Hollinquest added in her own caption, ‘My sister forever. Only a few knew what we had been through… I love you Quinn’.
Hollinquest added in another Instagtram Story post: “To know me is to know that I love the community, and that my mission forever is to create safe spaces, especially for BIPOC women.”
“This remains my purpose, whether I’m dancing, creating television or hosting events, and it’s only been strengthened through my experiences: good + bad,” she continued.
“Grateful for the people who have trusted me so far and know that the spirit will never change, only grow,” she added, giving a shout out to @baileworld and @friedplantains.la “for allowing me the platform to do just that. ‘
Allison began by saying that she doesn’t normally “discuss anything related to pop culture,” though she did share that “in 2019, I did some traveling with Lizzo to be the director of her documentary.”
To Know: Hollinquest added in another Instagtram Story post, “To know me is to know that I love the community, and that my mission forever is to create safe spaces, especially for BIPOC women.”
Allison: Allison began by saying that she doesn’t normally “discuss anything related to pop culture,” though she did share that “in 2019, I did some traveling with Lizzo to be the director of her documentary.”
‘I walked away after about 2 weeks. She treated me with such disrespect for her. I witnessed how self-centered, arrogant and disgusting she is,” Allison added.
“I was not protected and was thrown into a shitty situation with little support. My spirit told me to run as fast as I could and I am so thankful that I trusted my gut,” she continued.
‘I felt gaslit and was deeply hurt, but I have healed. Reading these reports made me realize how dangerous the situation was. This type of abuse of power happens all too often. Much love and support to the dancers,’ she concluded.
The original lawsuit accuses Lizzo of allegedly “inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers” inside an Amsterdam strip club.
He allegedly encouraged “catching dildos thrown from performers’ vaginas and eating bananas that protruded from performers’ vaginas.”
Ron Zambrano, the women’s attorney, said in the lawsuit, first revealed by NBC News: “The astonishing nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their artists seems to run counter to everything Lizzo stands for publicly.”
“While in private he shames his dancers and degrades them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
Lizzo is not the only defendant named in the case, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday.
Lawsuit: The original lawsuit accuses Lizzo of allegedly “inviting cast members to take turns groping the nude performers” inside an Amsterdam strip club.
Encouraged: Reportedly encouraged ‘catching dildos thrown from performers’ vaginas and eating bananas that protruded from performers’ vaginas’
Demotions: ‘While in private he shames his dancers and degrades them in ways that are not only illegal but utterly demoralizing’
Filed: Lizzo is not the only defendant named in the case, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday.
Their dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, also faces a series of allegations.
Quigley, according to the lawsuit, shared “lewd sexual fantasies” and publicly discussed the virginity of one of the plaintiffs while berating those who had engaged in premarital sex.
Complaints for all damages include: hostile work environment, sexual harassment, religious harassment, racial harassment, disability discrimination, and failure to prevent or remedy harassment.
Lizzo is specifically charged with disability discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and failing to stop said issues.
His tour company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., is also named as a defendant.
