Lizzo says she ‘made peace’ with public image following harassment lawsuits

Lizzo is speaking out three years after being accused of harassment and a hostile work environment by her former tour dancers, who filed a lawsuit against the singer alleging workplace misconduct .

The Truth Hurts singer appeared on Sunday Today with Willie Geist to share what she’s learned about navigating the public’s perception of her during the ongoing legal battle.

“I had to make peace with the fact that there’s a version of Lizzo that exists now that the world controls,” she said. “The world controls the narrative and I don’t. But what I can control is who I really am.”

The 38-year-old singer said that she doesn’t consider herself to be a “fighter” against the allegations.

“I’m not a fighter. I’m a lover. I think that is the business that I’m in now because I do realize it’s a headline game,” she said when asked if she ever wanted to fight back against the allegations.

She continued, “I’m like, ‘OK, how many headlines can I have out there about the things that I’m doing that I’m proud of and that I actually did?'”

Lizzo said that the biggest thing she has learned during the legal battle is “that everything that happens to you, good or bad, is an opportunity to for growth.”

“It’s an opportunity for self-reflection and to learn about yourself. And even if you don’t like parts of yourself, deal with it and work on it,” she added.

“The person you become at the end of that is like someone you couldn’t even imagine and you fall in love with them,” Lizzo said.

In August 2023, Lizzo was sued by three former dancers who accused the Grammy winner of sexual harassment and alleged the singer and her production company created a hostile work environment.

The civil lawsuit, viewed by The Associated Press, claims that Lizzo pressured the dancers to engage with nude performers at a club in Amsterdam and shamed one of them for her weight gain before firing her.

Plaintiffs Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez made numerous charges including sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.

The legal complaint seeks unspecified damages and names Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the performer’s dance team.

In May, Lizzo revealed that she is still fighting the lawsuit during a sit-down interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings .