Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams, two of the dancers who filed a lawsuit against , have given their first public interview about the allegations.
It emerged this week that of a hostile work environment and as seen in court documents acquired by multiple outlets.
broke her silence about the bombshell allegations made against her on Thursday, blasting what she claims to be ‘false accusations’.
Documents allege that Lizzo pressured one dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam and also ‘called attention’ to a performer’s weight gain.
Davis, 24, and 26-year-old Williams were hired by Lizzo after competing on her reality show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, in 2021 but were both fired.
Speaking to on Wednesday about being allegedly pressured to touch a nude performer, Davis – who claimed she was left ‘terrified for her job’ said: ‘I did not ask for it. I said no multiple times.’
‘I was very, very mortified, everyone burst into laughter,’ Davis added, saying she ‘briefly’ touched the performer.
The Indiana-born dancer also told the news outlet that Lizzo made ‘thinly veiled’ comments about her weight, as did the Grammy winner’s choreographer.
‘It was very nuanced and very underlying underneath all the other issues that were going on,’ Davis claimed.
‘I just had this feeling that they had a problem with the way I was gaining weight and looking different and that I wasn’t “the same” as when they first cast me.’
The dancer also spoke of her fear, saying: ‘Nobody speaks up because they’re so scared for their jobs… I was terrified for my job.’
Elsewhere in the interview, Williams said she thought she’d scored her ‘dream job’ until ‘reality set it’.
‘There’s a lot of things that go on behind-the-scenes, your ideas of things quickly start to shift,’ she shared.
Williams also spoke , saying: ‘If there’s anything that I can do in my power to ensure that dancers or singers or whoever decides to work with her don’t have to go through that same experience, I’m going to do that.’
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Lizzo issued a lengthy response to the allegations.
The A-lister wrote: ‘These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized.’
Lizzo went on: ‘Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.
‘These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.’
Lizzo also wrote that as an artist, she has ‘always been very passionate about what I do’.
‘I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art than represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards,’ she stated.
‘Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.’
The Juice singer stressed that she does not want to be ‘looked at as a victim’, adding: ‘But I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days.’
‘I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not,’ she said.
‘There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.’
Lizzo shared that she feels ‘hurt’ by the claims that have been made against her, while expressing her gratitude for the support she has received.
‘I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time,’ she wrote.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Lizzo’s reps for comment.
