Pop star Lizzo has welcomed a court decision that throws out claims she fat-shamed former dancers, calling the ruling a major personal and professional relief.
A judge dismissed that part of a lawsuit brought in 2023 by three ex-dancers, who had alleged they were mistreated over weight gain while working for the singer. Lizzo, whose music often champions body positivity, said there was no evidence to support the accusation and insisted the dancers were dismissed for unrelated reasons.
Posting a video message on social media, she said the claim that she fired anyone over weight was untrue, adding that the dismissals followed an incident in which a private recording was made without her permission and shared with former staff.
However, the wider legal case has not been resolved. Other allegations, including claims of sexual harassment and a hostile working environment, are still set to proceed through the courts. Lizzo and her production company strongly deny those accusations, describing the lawsuit as misleading and exaggerated.
The former dancers — Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez — allege they were placed in uncomfortable situations while touring between 2021 and 2023, including being pressured to attend sex shows and interact with nude performers. One claim centres on an incident at a nightclub in Amsterdam, where a dancer says she felt coerced into inappropriate contact out of fear for her job.
Lizzo’s legal team has argued that such outings were part of the creative process and therefore protected, a position rejected by the dancers’ lawyer, who says artistic inspiration does not excuse alleged misconduct. A judge previously ruled there was sufficient basis for those claims to continue.
Lizzo, whose full name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. When the lawsuit first became public, she said her openness about sexuality had been misinterpreted and used against her.
In her latest comments, she said the fat-shaming allegation had been particularly damaging, describing the past two years as emotionally exhausting. She reiterated that supporting people of all body types has always been central to her work and public image.
Thanking her legal team, Lizzo said she would continue to contest the remaining claims. “I’m not backing down,” she said, adding that she intends to fight the case until it is fully resolved.
