A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former wardrobe designer against the singer and rapper Lizzo accusing her and her touring company of sexual and racial harassment and disability discrimination.
The ruling was announced by Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha of United States District Court in Los Angeles. Nearly two years ago, he dismissed Lizzo as an individual defendant from the case, which was brought by Asha Daniels.
“This alleged conduct and these alleged incidents, while inappropriate and unprofessional, fall within the scope of what the Supreme Court has held to be outside the protection of Title VII as part of the ‘ordinary tribulations of the workplace,’” Judge Aenlle-Rocha wrote.
“The court’s ruling today granting summary judgment is a total victory for Lizzo, her touring company and the other defendants named in Asha Daniels’ ludicrous lawsuit,” Melissa Y. Glass, a lawyer for Lizzo and the touring company, said in a statement.
Ms. Daniels first filed her lawsuit in September 2023, asserting that in the three weeks she worked on Lizzo’s 2023 tour, she was bullied by a wardrobe manager who made “racist and fatphobic” comments and performed “offensive” and “stereotypical” impressions of a Black woman.
The lawsuit also asserted that a backstage manager had sent a photo “graphically depicting male genitalia” to a group chat that included the plaintiff, tour management and other crew members, and that Lizzo’s management had responded to it with humor, in a way that encouraged an “unsafe, sexually charged workplace culture.”
Ms. Daniel’s complaint also said she was subjected to long working hours and frequently denied breaks, even requiring her to be on her feet all day despite an ankle injury.
A lawyer for Ms. Daniels, Ron Zambrano, said he was disappointed by the court’s ruling.
“While we respect the court and the judicial process, we believe the decision improperly weighed evidence that should have been evaluated by a jury.”
The statement concluded “we respectfully disagree with the court’s approach and are considering appropriate next steps.”
Lizzo responded to the dismissal in captions she posted over a silent video of herself standing on a balcony.
One of the captions read, “I told y’all I will not settle and continue to fight every vicious claim that has been made against me and my business.”
Susan C. Beachy contributed research
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