A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the remaining claims in a lawsuit against Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., brought by former wardrobe stylist Asha Daniels. US district judge Fernando L Aenlle-Rocha ruled that the case could not proceed, nearly two years after he dismissed Lizzo as an individual defendant.
Background of the lawsuit
Daniels filed her lawsuit in September 2023, alleging bullying, sexual harassment, and racial harassment in what she described as an “unsafe, sexually charged workplace culture.” Lizzo denied all allegations, calling the lawsuit and a separate suit filed by three backup dancers in August 2023 “false” and “outrageous.” Her lawyers characterized Daniels as a “disgruntled” employee with “meritless and salacious” accusations.
In his ruling, Aenlle-Rocha stated that Daniels failed to identify conduct by company employees that would constitute “general hostility” toward women or disparate treatment between men and women at the workplace. He wrote that the alleged conduct, “while inappropriate and unprofessional, fall within the scope of what the Supreme Court has held to be outside the protection of Title VII as part of the ‘ordinary tribulations of the workplace.’”
Disability discrimination claim rejected
Daniels also claimed disability discrimination, citing an injury from a wardrobe manager who allegedly rolled a heavy clothing rack over her foot and pushed her. The judge decided that the injuries did not meet the requirements set forth by the American Disabilities Act (ADA), while noting that “the court does not seek to minimize or disregard the pain plaintiff felt from these injuries.”
Daniels’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, expressed disappointment with the ruling. “While we respect the court and the judicial process, we believe the decision improperly weighed evidence that should have been evaluated by a jury,” he said. “We disagree that an employee twisting her ankle and limping while trying to work does not meet the legal standard of a disability under the ADA. These are important issues because these claims often depend on how a jury evaluates the full workplace environment, the surrounding context, and disputed facts. We respectfully disagree with the Court’s approach and are considering appropriate next steps.”
Related lawsuits and ongoing case
Daniels’ lawsuit followed a separate suit by three former backup dancers who accused Lizzo of creating a hostile work environment through sexual, racial, and religious harassment. That lawsuit alleged that Lizzo berated a dancer for gaining weight, pressured another dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam, and subjected dancers to an “excruciating” 12-hour audition after making false accusations that they drank while working.
The fat-shaming claim was dismissed by a judge in December 2025. In a social media post celebrating that dismissal, Lizzo said she is “not settling” and will fight “every single claim until the truth comes out.” The backup dancers’ case remains ongoing.
“I could have settled, but I’m a woman who is not afraid of the truth coming out, so I’m continuing to fight,” Lizzo told the Today show in June. “I’m really excited for all of the claims to be dropped and for us to just move forward.”
