Grammy-winning pop sensation Lizzo was honored with the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the Black Music Action Coalition gala this past weekend. In her acceptance speech, she expressed her gratitude and emphasized the significance of humanitarianism, describing it as selfless and a gift that anyone can give. She reaffirmed her commitment to creating safe spaces for Black, plus-sized women and representing them proudly.
Lizzo received this prestigious award in recognition of her philanthropic efforts and dedication to social justice causes. The singer has been actively involved in various charitable endeavors and advocacy work throughout her career.
However, this moment of celebration comes amid renewed legal challenges for Lizzo. A former member of her wardrobe design team, Asha Daniels, has filed a lawsuit against her, alleging discriminatory comments and harsh working conditions. Daniels claimed she heard “fatphobic” and “racist” remarks from individuals on Lizzo’s team, with Amanda Nomura allegedly making derogatory comments about Black women.
Daniels further asserted that she was discouraged from wearing “sexy” clothing due to concerns that it would upset Lizzo if her boyfriend was around other attractive women. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, citing Daniels’ experience on tour as the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and various health issues.
Lizzo’s representative strongly refuted these claims, dismissing them as a “bogus, absurd publicity-stunt lawsuit.” The representative emphasized that Daniels never met or spoke with Lizzo, highlighting the timing of the lawsuit in relation to Lizzo receiving a Humanitarian Award and asserting that it deserves minimal attention.
This legal challenge follows a previous lawsuit by three former dancers—Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez—who accused Lizzo of weight-shaming and sexual harassment. Lizzo, her production company, and her dance captain were named in that lawsuit. Lizzo’s attorney, Marty Singer, has indicated that she plans to countersue her backup dancers, citing newly surfaced photos from Paris showing the accusers socializing with nude performers backstage.
These legal battles have added complexity to what should have been a celebratory moment for Lizzo as she received the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award for her significant contributions to humanitarian causes and social justice efforts.
Written by
Derek Chan – Editor
