Lizzo’s former backup dancer Arianna Davis is seen praising the singer AFTER the alleged sexual harassment incidents took place: ‘I look up to her!’
Lizzo’s former backup dancer, Arianna Davis, praised the singer in a video obtained by TMZ after the alleged sexual harassment incidents had taken place.
In the two-minute clip obtained by the outlet – which is an audition tape for the second season of Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls – was originally filmed in April and after the alleged incidents stated in the lawsuit had occurred.
Arianna, who appeared in the first season of the show, explained she was auditioning as a singer and expressed that working with Lizzo has ‘been amazing’ and ‘such a beautiful journey.’
Davis, 24, along with Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles to sue the Truth Hurts hitmaker, 35, not only for sexual harassment, but also for creating a ‘hostile work environment’ and weight-shaming.
The Grammy winner notably issued a statement to break her silence on Thursday over the ‘unbelievable and outrageous’ accusations against her.
Praising the singer: Lizzo’s, 35, former backup dancer, Arianna Davis, 24, praised the singer in a video obtained by TMZ after the alleged sexual harassment incidents had taken place; seen in May in NYC
Following alleged incidents: In the two-minute clip obtained by the outlet was originally filmed in April and after the alleged incidents in the lawsuit had occurred; here are Lizzo and Arianna
‘I thought I might as well shoot my shot. I mean, I don’t think she knows that I can sing,’ Arianna stated, adding, ‘dance is my first love and music is my passion.’
She explained that she felt sharing her voice, ‘can help change lives and, you know, do what Lizzo is doing. I look up to her so much and I just want to follow in her footsteps.
‘And not only be an amazing dancer but an amazing singer and storyteller,’ Davis expressed, later adding, ‘I love to sing, and I just want to share that with the Queen Lizzo herself.’
The audition video resurfaced after the lawsuit was filed by Arianna and two other former dancers, and after Davis alleged she had been fired by Lizzo.
In the filing, the dancers claimed they were forced to touch a nude performer while at a strip club in Amsterdam and also accused the Truth Hurts hitmaker of allegedly ‘inviting cast members to take turns touching the nude performers,’ inside the club.
At one point, it was alleged that during the night, Lizzo ‘turned her attention to Ms. Davis and began pressuring Ms. Davis to touch the breasts of one of the nude women.’
Arianna had declined various times but the singer had ‘goaded’ her to touch the nude woman and claimed the chanting ‘grew louder and more strident, demanding a visibly uncomfortable Ms. Davis to engage with the performer.’
Davis was later fired after recording a meeting with other dancers and the songstress in April. The dancer chose to record due to suffering from an eye condition that left her ‘disoriented.’
‘Amazing’: Davis, who appeared in the first season of the show, explained she was auditioning as a singer and expressed that working with Lizzo has ‘been amazing’ and ‘such a beautiful journey’; singer seen in June in Glastonbury
‘In her footsteps’: She explained that she felt sharing her voice, ‘can help change lives and, you know, do what Lizzo is doing. I look up to her so much and I just want to follow in her footsteps’
Lawsuit: Arianna, along with Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in L.A. to sue the Truth Hurts hitmaker not only for sexual harassment, but also for creating a ‘hostile work environment’ and weight-shaming; Noelle seen above
Upon finding out, the suit states, ‘Lizzo became furious, hurling expletives at the group and stated that she was going to go around the room, person-by-person until someone told Lizzo who made the recording.’
Arianna admitted to filming but explained that she never intended any harm and insisted the video was deleted, but was ‘berated’ and then promptly fired on the spot.
Crystal Williams also claimed to have been fired by Lizzo after speaking out about the singer alleging that dancers, including herself, had been drinking before performances. Noelle later resigned soon after the incident had occurred.
Arianna notably appeared on the reality show, Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, and was hired to tour with Lizzo during her European trek and also performed together at the 2023 Brit Awards in February.
For appearing on the series, Davis was awarded an Emmy in 2022 when the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program.
The audition clip wasn’t the first time that Davis had gushed about the Grammy winner. In April 2022, the dancer opened up about working alongside Lizzo, calling the performer her ‘role model’ during an interview with IndyStar at the time.
‘She’s the same person in real life that she is on social media, and in the media. She is just such a genuine, kind-hearted person, and I love working with her.’
On Thursday, two days after the lawsuit came to light, Lizzo broke her silence on the allegations by sharing a statement to her main Instagram page – after losing 120,000 followers amid the claims.
The star insisted the claims are untrue and alleged her accusers had previously been warned about their own ‘inappropriate and unprofessional’ conduct.
Breaking silence: On Thursday, two days after the lawsuit came to light, Lizzo broke her silence on the allegations by sharing a statement to her main Instagram page
Her side: The star insisted the claims are untrue and alleged her accusers had previously been warned about their own ‘inappropriate and unprofessional’ conduct
Not a ‘victim’: ‘l 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’
‘Hurt’: Lizzo admitted she was ‘hurt’ by the accusations ‘but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this’
‘These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,’ adding that her, ‘work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned.’
‘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,’ she continued.
‘l 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.’
‘There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. 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.’
‘I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time,’ the performer concluded.
Since Tuesday, other former employees of Lizzo have come forward to reveal their own experiences collaborating with the singer. Director Sophia Nahli Allison labeled the singer as a ‘narcissistic bully’ in a post shared on Wednesday.
Coming forward: Since Tuesday, other former employees of Lizzo have come forward to reveal their own experiences collaborating with the singer; seen in 2020 in Utah
A ‘bully’: Director Sophia Nahli Allison labeled the singer as a ‘narcissistic bully’ in a post shared on Wednesday
She also shared a previous post on Tuesday and revealed that she had quit working for Lizzo after only two weeks while filming a 2019 documentary.
At one point during her statement, Sophia wrote, ‘She is a narcissistic bully and has build her brand off of lies. I was excited to support and protect a Black woman through the documentary process but quickly learned her image and “message” was a curated facade.’
‘I stand with the dancers and anyone who has had similar experiences working with her and her team. These working conditions are not ok.’
Former dancer, Courtney Hollinquest, and previous creative director, Quinn Wilson, have also spoken out against Lizzo.
Source: Read Full Article
