by Venus Sanders
Lizzo's former backup dancers, who are suing the singer for sexual harassment, consider her plan to countersue them an "insidious attempt at intimidation," as stated by their lawyers.
Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, says in a statement to She's SINGLE & Page Six, "Lizzo’s threat to countersue for malicious prosecution is an insidious attempt at intimidation and delivers a chilling effect to all harassment victims in the workplace."
Zambrano argues that Lizzo's strategy aims to discourage other potential victims from coming forward with similar allegations. He further explains, "Her team is merely trying to suppress the truth and hide her hypocrisy of publicizing her brand as one of empowerment and body positivity while privately depriving women of their empowerment."
He adds that Lizzo's behavior goes against her public image and empowerment message, stating, "Lizzo certainly isn’t empowering women by way of her threats, rather she is disenfranchising them, but this lawsuit isn’t just about her. This sort of behavior is pervasive in the entertainment industry. That doesn’t make it right, and it’s still illegal."
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Lizzo's lawyer, Marty Singer, announced her intention to countersue the three women for "malicious prosecution." Singer presented photos and videos purportedly showing the dancers in a positive state after attending a topless show in Amsterdam with Lizzo, which he claims contradicts their claims of being coerced.
However, Neama Rahmani, another attorney on the dancers' legal team, asserts that Singer has no legal basis to countersue on Lizzo's behalf. Rahmani explains, "By doing so, he would actually have to step inside a courtroom and expose his client and her lies to cross-examination at trial."
The dancers initially sued Lizzo for allegedly subjecting them to weight-shaming, sexually denigrating behavior, and participation in disturbing sex shows. They claimed that Lizzo pressured them into attending topless shows in Amsterdam's red light district during a tour in the Netherlands. The plaintiffs further alleged that Lizzo's management treated them poorly, contradicting her public image.
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As the legal battle continues, the case underscores broader issues of workplace harassment and accountability in the entertainment industry. The dancers' accusations, Lizzo's response, and the subsequent countersuit all contribute to a complex conversation around power dynamics, harassment, and victims' rights.