On 30 July 2023, Lizzo finished a 10-month world tour, having played 80 shows across North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia, selling more than 853,000 tickets and grossing $86.3m. Two days later, three former dancers alleged sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, religious and racial discrimination, and fat-shaming on the tour. The accusations sparked a media firestorm, and Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, largely disappeared from public view.
Allegations and Aftermath
The three dancers—Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez—filed a joint lawsuit in Los Angeles County superior court on 1 August 2023. They claimed they were subject to sexual harassment, including a visit to an erotic venue in Amsterdam where Lizzo allegedly pressured them into interacting with nude performers. They also alleged fat-shaming, a hostile work environment, and religious discrimination by dance captain Shirlene Quigley. Lizzo has denied all allegations, and in December 2024, a judge ruled that the fat-shaming claim lacked sufficient merit to proceed to trial. The other claims remain pending.
New Album 'Bitch' and Critical Reception
Last month, Lizzo released the album 'Bitch', her first since the scandal. Reviews were disappointing, and the album failed to chart in the top 100 in the US or UK, a stark contrast to her previous albums which each sold over a million units. Lizzo believes the critical reception was colored by the scandal rather than the music itself. She told The Guardian: "I will put out music and the critique of it is never really about the music: it’s more about me."
Personal Struggles and Resilience
In a Substack essay last year, Lizzo confirmed she became "deeply suicidal" and cut off loved ones. In the interview, she said: "I always knew, from when I was a non‑famous person, that [being a fat, black, happy girl] makes people uncomfortable. So I kind of signed up for that part." She also addressed her weight loss, attributing it to depression and joint pain, and denied using Ozempic. "There are a lot of reasons," she said. "I was in a place where my physical weight was causing joint pain and aches."
Support and Moving Forward
Lizzo noted that 18 former employees have given statements supporting her, calling the tour environment supportive and professional. She also thanked her boyfriend, comedian Myke Wright, for his support. Despite the ongoing legal case, she insisted: "I get it. It is a big thing that happened to me. But it’s so behind me. Maybe it’s not behind the general public or the media, but it’s so behind me." She distinguished between her public persona Lizzo and her private self Melissa: "Lizzo can go out there and do interviews with sharpshooters like you and can perform on stage... Melissa needs to be protected."
