Lizzo Breaks Silence on Accusations from Former Dancers: 'I Am Not the Villain'

The singer is being sued by three of her former backup dancers for alleged sexual and racial harassment and creating a hostile work environment

Lizzo has broken her silence after three of her former backup dancers filed a lawsuit against the singer this week, alleging sexual and racial harassment and accusing her of creating a hostile work environment.

On Thursday, the "About Damn Time" singer, 35, shared a lengthy statement on social media declaring that she is “not the villain” and that the allegations being made against her were “too outrageous” not to address.

“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelming disappointing,” her post on Instagram began. “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed.”

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lizzo, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and her dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley.

In the suit, provided to PEOPLE by the plaintiffs’ law firm, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez allege that they were pressured by Lizzo into touching nude performers at a club in Amsterdam and were subjected to weight shaming. 

Related: Beyoncé Skips Lizzo's Name While Performing 'Break My Soul' Remix After She's Sued for Alleged Harassment

Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, continued to address the claims in her Thursday statement, “These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”

“As an artist I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans. With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.”

“I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not," she said.

Related: Oscar-Nominated Director Claims She 'Walked Away' from Lizzo Doc and Was Treated with ‘Disrespect’ by the Star

The lawsuit also accuses dance captain Quigley of shaming those who engaged in premarital sex, proselytizing those around her and "oversharing her masturbatory habits and sex life with her husband."

The dancers also claim they were subjected to racial harassment from BGBT management, who "treated the Black members of the dance team differently than other members."

Davis also accused Lizzo of weight shaming, but in her statement responding to the accusations, Lizzo denied this and says that as someone who is “body shamed on a daily basis” she would “absolutely never” do this to someone else.

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“There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world,” she continued. “I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”

The statement concluded, “I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in this world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”

Lizzo's representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request on Thursday for additional comment.

Additional allegations in the suit include interference with prospective economic advantage and false imprisonment, but not all of the allegations pertain to all of the defendants.

The plantiffs' attorney, Ron Zambrano, claimed to PEOPLE in a statement Thursday that Lizzo's denial hours earlier had added to his clients' "emotional distress."

“Lizzo has failed her own brand and has let down her fans. Her denial of this reprehensible behavior only adds to our clients’ emotional distress. The dismissive comments and utter lack of empathy are quite telling about her character and only serve to minimize the trauma she has caused the plaintiffs and other employees who have now come forward sharing their own negative experiences," he wrote.

"While Lizzo notes it was never her intention ‘to make anyone feel uncomfortable,’ that is exactly what she did to the point of demoralizing her dancers and flagrantly violating the law.”

Davis and Williams competed on Lizzo’s 2021 Amazon reality show, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls and then began performing for her, the lawsuit said. They were later fired. Rodriguez was also hired in 2021 after performing in the video for Lizzo’s hit “Rumors,” but she resigned in 2022.

Quigley did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A rep for Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., could not be reached for comment.

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