I don’t know if our hearts can take any more: Lizzo is facing at least six new lawsuits in addition to the three she already had for sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and lack of payment. The lawyers handling the case of the former dancers who raised their voices are already reviewing new complaints from more staff who claim to have been employees of the singer.
Last week, it was reported that the Grammy Award-winning singer was being sued by former members of her dance troupe for sexual harassment and mobbing.
Lizzo’s response left much to be desired: “These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told that their behavior while on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”
Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing the dancers, told NBC News that the new allegations concern a “sexually heavy environment” and “failure to pay employees. Some of the allegations we’re reviewing may be actionable, but it’s too early to tell,” Zambrano said.
The first allegations against Lizzo were made by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, former members of Lizzo’s Big Grrrls dance group. In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Lizzo pressured one of the dancers to touch a nude performer at a strip club in Amsterdam and called attention to another’s weight gain before terminating her contract.
The plaintiffs claim that Lizzo pressured them to attend a sex show in Amsterdam and also to interact with the performers in that show. The lawsuit also alleges that Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, imposed her religious beliefs on the plaintiffs and performed repeated actions that made them uncomfortable, including commenting on her virginity and simulating oral sex on a banana in front of them.
After Lizzo’s terse response on Instagram, the singer has “disappeared” from social media.
The Problem of Pressuring Employees to Hang Out Outside Working Hours
One of Lizzo’s main problems, according to the testimonies of her former dancers’ lawsuits, is that the singer insisted on partying after concerts and during off-work hours. While this is necessarily synonymous with exploitation, abuse at work, and other problematic situations for bosses and employees, there are fine lines that can be crossed and turn into conflicts such as:
Violation of personal boundaries: forcing or pressuring employees to interact outside of work hours can encroach on their personal boundaries and time off. This can cause resentment and stress, as employees may feel that their time is being invaded.
Lack of fairness: Not all employees have the same personal preferences or circumstances. Some may have different family responsibilities, personal commitments, or socialization preferences. Forcing everyone to participate in activities outside of work can be unfair and under-inclusive.
Pressure to comply: Employees may feel compelled to participate in these activities for fear of negative consequences at work if they refuse. This could create a sense of coercion and decrease team morale.
Difficulty disconnecting: The ability to disconnect and recharge is essential to maintaining employee well-being. If they are forced to constantly socialize with colleagues and superiors, they may have difficulty separating work from their personal lives.
Possible exclusion: Social interactions can be complicated and can lead to the formation of exclusionary groups. If some employees do not feel comfortable participating in these activities, they may feel marginalized or excluded.
Conflict of interest: If these interactions outside of work are work-related, such as discussing important projects or decisions, a conflict of interest may arise. Some employees may feel that they do not have an equal opportunity to influence decisions if they do not participate in these social activities.
Have you been in a similar situation? New generations of young employees are questioning themselves and raising new necessary boundaries in working relationships. However, the law and guidelines in companies are not always moving fast enough.
This story was written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva