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Lizzo has broken her silence on the challenges she has faced in recent years, addressing a toxic relationship with the internet and the ongoing sexual harassment lawsuits filed by former dancers. Speaking on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast on December 19, Lizzo revealed the emotional toll these events have taken on her.
"When I see things about me now, or even if I see a word that looks like my name, I get physically unwell," Lizzo shared, describing how negative online discourse has affected her. The artist admitted to taking a social media break from August 2023 to January 2024. "Anything that you saw was either someone on my team posted for me, or I posted real quick and threw my phone," she explained, emphasizing the need to protect her mental health.
In the podcast, Lizzo also addressed the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three former backup dancers. Among the claims was an incident at Amsterdam's Bananenbar, where the dancers alleged they were pressured into engaging with nude performers. Lizzo denied these allegations, describing the evening as "wild" but "very consensual." She explained, "The performer is very consensual... If you say 'Yes,' you do it. If you say 'No,' she moves on." Lizzo emphasized, "I have to stress how consensual it was because this bar has been like this since 1945. If they were doing things non-consensually, they would have been sued."
However, the dancers' attorney, Ron Zambrano, argued there was a power dynamic at play. "There is an utter lack of awareness by Lizzo failing to see how these young women... would feel pressured to accept an invitation from their global celebrity boss," Zambrano said. He added, "We stand by the claims in the lawsuit and are prepared to prove everything in court."
The lawsuits also include allegations of racial and religious harassment, weight shaming, and creating a hostile work environment. Lizzo expressed being "deeply surprised" and "blindsided" by the accusations. "I did nothing wrong," she stated, reiterating her commitment to addressing the claims in court.
Despite losing 150,000 followers in a single day due to the controversy, Lizzo emphasized that she remains focused on her loyal fans. "I'm doing this interview for my fans who care about me, who've stood beside me," she said.
