US singer Lizzo has reacted after a federal judge dismissed the remaining claims in a lawsuit brought against her production company by a former wardrobe assistant.
Asha Daniels, who worked briefly for Lizzo’s touring company Big Grrrl Big Touring in 2023, had accused the company of subjecting her to “degradation, forced physical labor, denial of medical care, sexual harassment, and racial harassment”.
Following the latest ruling, Lizzo said she was “relieved” by the outcome and vowed to continue defending herself and her businesses against the allegations.
The case was initially brought against both Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, and Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. However, in 2024, Judge Hernán D. Vera ruled that Daniels could not pursue the claims against Lizzo personally, leaving the touring company as a defendant.
In his latest decision, Judge Aenlle-Rocha said Daniels had failed to point to conduct by the company’s employees that amounted to “general hostility to women in the workplace” or “disparate treatment of men and women”.
The judge further determined that the alleged behaviour and incidents, “while inappropriate and unprofessional”, fell “within the scope of what the Supreme Court has held to be outside the protection” of the “ordinary tribulations of the workplace”.
The ruling also addressed an incident in which Daniels alleged that a heavy clothing rack ran over her foot.
Aenlle-Rocha said the court “does not seek to minimise or disregard the pain” Daniels experienced but concluded that her injuries “do not qualify as disabilities” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Daniels’ attorney, Ron Zambrano, expressed disappointment with the decision and argued that the evidence should have been left for a jury to assess.
“While we respect the court and the judicial process, we believe the decision improperly weighed evidence that should have been evaluated by a jury,” he said.
Zambrano also disputed the court’s assessment of Daniels’ injuries, particularly its conclusion that the stylist’s “twisting her ankle and limping while trying to work does not meet the legal standard of a disability under the ADA”.
“ These are important issues because these claims often depend on how a jury evaluates the full workplace environment, the surrounding context, and disputed facts,” he said.
He added that the legal team “respectfully disagree” with the court’s approach and are “considering appropriate next steps”.
Lizzo addressed the development in an Instagram post, where she thanked her legal team and maintained that she would continue challenging the allegations.
“The truth matters to me more than anything and told y’all I will not settle and will continue to fight every vicious claim that has been made against me and my businesses,” she wrote.
The Grammy-winning singer also said she intended to continue using her public platform to “spread positivity and light to the world” before sending a message of love to her supporters.
Daniels filed her lawsuit in September 2023, several weeks after three former dancers who had toured with Lizzo filed a separate lawsuit against the singer and members of her team.
