Lizzo was reportedly being considered as an act for the 2024 Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, but her name has since been scrapped amid ongoing allegations of harassment from former employees.
According to a report from the Daily Mail on Friday (August 11), an NFL insider told the publication that the backlash from the recent allegations prompted them to “immediately drop” the singer from contention. She was allegedly “one of the front-runners” for the 2024 show.
‘Talks of Lizzo being a part of the Halftime festivities, or performing the National Anthem, are dead now that she is surrounded by scandal,’ the source said.
The Grammy-winning singer denied the prior accusations that she fostered a hostile work environment in a statement earlier this month, after a lawsuit was filed against her over claims of sexual harassment, fat-shaming and more.
Now, an attorney for the three dancers — Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez — is threatening to take Lizzo to trial, claiming more witnesses have come forward since news of the lawsuit came to light.
“Given Lizzo is denying that any of this happened, let’s take it to trial,“ said Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Employment Lawyers. “More witnesses are coming forward every day corroborating the plaintiffs’ allegations, so we’re looking forward to facing Lizzo and her team in court.”
In her statement, Lizzo claimed her former dancers’ stories are “sensationalized” and have “hurt” her.
“Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed,” she wrote. “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.
“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. 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.”
She added: “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.”
The plaintiffs claimed Lizzo once brought attention to a dancer’s weight gain, before berating then firing them after they recorded a meeting “because of a health condition.”