LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lizzo is facing a lawsuit from three of her former dancers who allege that they experienced a hostile work environment and harassment during their time as members of the Grammy-winning singer's dance team. The complaint was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, August 1, and includes her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc, as a defendant.
The trio alleged that the 'Truth Hurts' singer engaged in weight-shaming and allegedly invited "cast members to take turns touching the nude performers," inside a strip club in Amsterdam. The lawsuit further alleged that Lizzo encouraged inappropriate behavior, such as "catching dildos launched from the performers' vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers' vaginas," as reported by NBC News.
What is Lizzo's real name?
Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known as Lizzo, has gained global recognition for her positive message and empowering music in the early 21st century. Her musical style is a fusion of R&B, rap and pop, often centered around themes of self-love, particularly related to body image. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 1988, Lizzo is the youngest of three children to Michael Jefferson and Shari Johnson-Jefferson, both employed in the mortgage industry.
At the age of 10, her family relocated to Houston, Texas, where she developed a passion for music and was introduced to freestyle rap, which would shape her future work. Inspired by a Destiny's Child concert during her fifth-grade years, she aspired to become a performing artist, encouraged by her father to learn the flute, which she began playing in the sixth grade. During her adolescence, she co-founded the female rap group Cornrow Clique, earning her the nickname Lizzo as a combination of her byname Lissa and JAY-Z's song 'Izzo (H.O.V.A.).'
Lizzo's rise to musical stardom
After a brief stint at the University of Houston on a music scholarship, Lizzo left school to pursue her passion for music in Minneapolis. There, she collaborated with various groups and co-founded a female rap and R&B group called Chalice, as well as Grrrl Prty, before launching her solo career. She released her debut solo album, 'Lizzobangers', in 2013, followed by 'Big Grrrl Small World' in 2015, both of which received positive reviews.
Lizzo signed with Atlantic Records and released the EP 'Coconut Oil' in 2016. Her breakthrough came with her third studio album, 'Cuz I Love You', released in 2019. The album featured hits like 'Juice', 'Jerome', and 'Tempo' (a collaboration with Missy Elliott) and included the bonus track 'Truth Hurts', which became her first single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped her win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance. The album also won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Her success continued with the release of 'Special' in 2022, which became her first recording to reach number one on Billboard's album sales chart, and its hit single 'About Damn Time' won Record of the Year. Apart from her music career, Lizzo has been open about her struggles and uses social media to engage with fans and promote her message of empowerment. She also signed a TV deal with Amazon and debuted the reality series 'Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls' on the platform in 2022. Lizzo has also ventured into acting, making her film debut in 'UglyDolls' and appearing in 'Hustlers'.
