Lizzo has won a major victory in her ongoing legal battle with a former employee.
A Los Angeles federal judge ruled this week to dismiss the claims made by former wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels, saying she does not have legal standing to sue Lizzo as an individual but that her touring company can still be held liable for misconduct.
Daniels filed a lawsuit against Lizzo in September 2023, alleging she was subjected to “racist and fatphobic” comments, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment during the Grammy winner’s 2023 Special Tour. Daniels also claimed she was forced to work 20-hour days and was eventually fired before her contract ended.
U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha dismissed all seven causes of action against Lizzo, as well as those against tour manager Carlina Gugliotta. According to the BBC, the judge ruled Big Grrrl Big Touring Company Inc. can remain a defendant in the case — though he also dismissed several of the claims against the company due to the fact that Daniels worked on tour while in Europe, where employment laws differ.
“We are very pleased that the court dismissed every claim against Lizzo and the overtime wages claim against all of our clients including Big Grrrl Touring in this specious lawsuit filed by Asha Daniels,” Lizzo’s lawyer, Martin D. Singer, told Rolling Stone. “My client never should have been sued in this matter and [we] are evaluating suing Asha Daniels and her attorneys for malicious prosecution. We are very confident that Big Grrrl Touring will also prevail in this action.”
Daniels filed her lawsuit amid similar legal action taken by three backup dancers on the same tour, who accused Lizzo of creating a hostile work environment rife with sexual harassment and body shaming.
The “About Damn Time” singer, who has long championed “body positivity,” called the allegations “false” and said they’re “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
Both she and Big Grrrl Big Touring have requested the court dismiss the allegations of the dancers, who are requesting a jury trial.
