Lizzo 'relieved' as judge dismisses remaining claims in wardrobe assistant's lawsuit
Lizzo, the acclaimed pop musician known as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, expressed gratitude after a federal court dismissed claims from a lawsuit by her former wardrobe assistant, Asha Daniels. The legal battle, initiated in September 2023, included accusations of severe misconduct, such as harassment and forced labor. However, US District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha determined that Daniels failed to demonstrate a widespread pattern of discrimination against women or disproportionate treatment. While acknowledging some inappropriate behavior, the judge ruled that these actions did not violate workplace protections, and injuries from a clothes rack incident were not deemed disabilities. Lizzo celebrated the ruling on Instagram.
Key facts
- Judge Fernando L Aenlle-Rocha dismissed remaining claims in lawsuit against Lizzo's production company.
- Lawsuit was filed by former wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels in September 2023.
- Claims included degradation, forced physical labor, denial of medical care, sexual harassment, and racial harassment.
- Judge ruled Daniels did not show general hostility to women or disparate treatment of men and women.
- Incident of foot being run over by clothes rack did not qualify as disability under ADA.
- In 2024, judge dismissed claims against Lizzo individually, but Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc remained defendant.
- Lizzo expressed relief and vowed to continue fighting claims in Instagram post.
- Separate lawsuit by three former tour dancers included sexual harassment allegations, denied by Lizzo's team.
- Fat-shaming allegations from that lawsuit were dismissed in 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Lizzo
- Asha Daniels
- Melissa Viviane Jefferson
Institutions
- Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc
- BBC Newsbeat