Judge Dismisses Lizzo Lawsuit 2 Years After Dropping Her as Defendant
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 1
Judge Dismisses Lizzo Lawsuit 2 Years After Dropping Her as Defendant
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 1
Summary
A federal judge in Los Angeles granted summary judgment for Lizzo, her touring company and other defendants, throwing out Asha Daniels’s harassment, discrimination and disability claims.
Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha said the alleged conduct, while “inappropriate and unprofessional,” amounted to workplace “ordinary tribulations” outside Title VII protection; he had already dismissed Lizzo personally from the case nearly 2 years ago.
Daniels, a former wardrobe designer, sued in 2023 over 3 weeks on Lizzo’s tour, alleging racist and fatphobic comments, a sexually explicit image in a work group chat, and long hours without breaks despite an ankle injury.
Lizzo said she would keep fighting “every vicious claim,” while Daniels’s lawyer said the court improperly weighed evidence that should have gone to a jury and is considering next steps.
With Daniels' case dismissed as ordinary workplace disputes, what does this mean for the pending lawsuit from Lizzo's former backup dancers?
Could this legal victory for Lizzo's touring company redefine the boundary between a toxic work environment and actionable harassment in the music industry?
Since the judge ruled the designer's claims lacked evidence, what next steps could her legal team possibly take to appeal the summary judgment?