On the titular single of Lizzo’s fourth studio album, Special, the multidisciplinary musician, songwriter and rapper croons, “In case nobody made you believe you’re special/Well, I will always love you the same, you’re special.” It’s a perfect encapsulation of the image that Lizzo has come to represent for her fans in her rise to stardom: a talented woman who chooses joy and self-love in the face of the rampant anti-Blackness and fatphobia thrown her way and is an evangelist for that message to all who choose to embrace it.
Given that, the NBC news headline, Former Lizzo dancers were weight-shamed and pressured while at strip club, lawsuit says, landed before the public with a thud. The headline suggested a person whose private life veered from her established brand identity — fatphobic and coercive versus good-natured and body positive. The more significant details of the suit offered even more concerning allegations levied by three of Lizzo’s former dancers (Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez and Crystal Williams) — a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, religious harassment, racial harassment, false imprisonment, disability discrimination, and assault – a laundry list that seemingly flies in the face of the woman who rapidly changed the lyrics to a song once her disabled fans informed her of its ableist legacy.
During her acceptance speech for her Emmy award-winning competition series, Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Lizzo talked about how important the show was to women who looked like her.
“When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media. Someone fat like me, Black like me, beautiful like me,” she said. “One year ago, these women were filming this television show that would change their lives forever. They are Emmy-award winning superstars who are going on a world tour. Make some noise…
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