Lizzo wins legal battle as dancers drop fat-shaming claims

Lizzo scores a court win as former dancers drop fat-shaming appeal, though other allegations remain in lawsuit

Pop star Lizzo has scored a legal victory after former dancers dropped their fat-shaming claims against her, though other allegations in the ongoing lawsuit remain active.

The dismissal came after a key secret recording weakened the dancers’ claims, providing Lizzo’s legal team with a major advantage.

The lawsuit was filed by dancers Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez, and Crystal Williams. Part of their complaint alleged that Lizzo fat-shamed them during rehearsals and performances. That claim has now been dismissed, and the dancers chose not to appeal the ruling further.

According to Lizzo’s attorneys, Marty Singer and Melissa Glass, the accusations never held up in court. Eighteen witnesses testified to refute the fat-shaming claims, strengthening Lizzo’s defense. Davis was reportedly fired after secretly recording a meeting with Lizzo and sending it to Williams, who was no longer on The Special Tour. A Superior Court judge ruled that Davis’s firing was justified, contributing to the dismissal of the fat-shaming allegations.

Following the ruling, Lizzo shared a statement on social media, saying: “They weren’t fired for gaining weight. They were fired for taking a private recording of me without my consent and sending it off to ex-employees.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite this setback for the dancers, their legal team, led by Ronald Zambrano, maintains that other claims, including harassment and false imprisonment, are still valid. The lawsuit also includes allegations that Lizzo pressured employees to interact with performers at Amsterdam’s Bananenbar, which she has denied. Her attorneys remain confident in her ability to prevail in the ongoing case.

Lizzo previously described the lawsuit as surprising. In a 2024 interview with Keke Palmer, she said she was “blindsided” by the legal action. While the dismissal of the fat-shaming claim is a significant legal win, the broader case against Lizzo continues.