Lizzo has been dismissed from a harassment lawsuit raised by her former wardrobe assistant.
Her victory in a key ruling came this week and centred around an ongoing legal battle with a stylist, who claimed the singer subjected her to a hostile work environment during their 2023 tour of Europe.
Asha Daniels first filed the lawsuit against Lizzo in September last year, alleging that the environment subjected her to disability discrimination, sexual harassment and “racist and fatphobic comments”. Daniels also claimed that she suffered physical injuries after a wardrobe manager pushed her and rolled a “heavy clothing rack” over her foot.
The suit was filed amid another lawsuit raised against Lizzo by three former dancers, also claiming sexual harassment and hostile workplace environment.
At the time, Lizzo’s attorneys described Daniels as a “disgruntled” employee with “meritless and salacious” accusations. The singer also denied the claims made by the three dancers, and said that the situation had left her contemplating quitting the music industry.
Now, a federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that Daniels has no standing to sue the ‘Good As Hell’ singer.
According to Rolling Stone, District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha said that Lizzo cannot be sued as an individual after identifying the singer’s touring and payroll companies as her employers. All seven causes of action have been dismissed and Daniels has been told she cannot try to sue again.
The outlet also reports that the singer’s tour manager, Carlina Gugliotta, was cut loose from the lawsuit although Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. remains a defendant.
“Lizzo’s company was not dismissed,” Daniels’ lawyer Ron Zambrano told RS in a new statement. “The lawsuit still exists as to Lizzo’s companies … Lizzo and her tour manager will still be deposed in this matter.”
It has also been shared that lawyers representing Lizzo have not responded to request for comment.
This is a developing story.
As for the lawsuit raised by the three dancers, a ruling last January saw a judge dismiss some elements of the case, but allow it to proceed. A status conference is set to take place in January.
Back in October, Lizzo retracted her previous comments that she was taking a “gap year”, stating: “I’ve just been working, working, working. You may not see me, but I’ve been working. This ain’t a gap year, it’s a grind year.”
