Lizzo‘s accusers have fired a direct shot at the Grammys for inviting the singer to present at the annual ceremony amid her ongoing legal woes.
On Sunday (February 4), the “About Damn Time” singer — whose currently entangled in a sexual harassment lawsuit — made a brief appearance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where she presented the Best R&B Song award.
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Soon after, Neama Rahmani, a representative for several of Lizzo’s accusers criticized ceremony organizers over their tone-deaf decision-making.
According to TMZ, Rahmani expressed disappointment over the singer being selected to present the Best R&B Song award, questioning the Recording Academy’s decision to provide a platform to someone accused of sexually harassing her backup dancers.
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The news comes on the heels of Lizzo hitting yet another roadblock in her bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit, with recent attempts to dodge the legal proceedings being dismissed.
According to Billboard, on Friday (February 2), a judge denied the singer’s motion to throw out her sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three of her former backup dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez.
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It’s important to note that while certain accusations have been dismissed — such as claims that Lizzo fat-shamed one of her dancers — the case as a whole will go to trial.
Lizzo, who is facing harassment and discrimination allegations, sought dismissal of the case under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which aims to swiftly resolve meritless lawsuits threatening free speech. Her legal team contended that the lawsuit was an attempt to “silence” her.
However, Judge Mark H. Epstein found that the anti-SLAPP statute didn’t apply to the circumstances. “It is dangerous for the court to weigh in, ham-fisted, into constitutionally protected activity,” the judge wrote. “But it is equally dangerous to turn a blind eye to allegations of discrimination or other forms of misconduct merely because they take place in a speech-related environment.”
The judge’s decision echoes a November opposition filing submitted by the dancer’s legal team, contending that the anti-SLAPP statutes do not shield Lizzo from potential legal consequences for the allegations made against her.
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In the 19-page filing obtained by Rolling Stonethey wrote: “Can a global celebrity be forever insulated from civil liability because all their conduct is protected as free speech under the anti-SLAPP statute? Defendant Lizzo asks this Court to rule in exactly that fashion. Fortunately for all victims of celebrity malfeasance, the law says otherwise.”
They added: “In an apparent effort to dupe this Court, Defendants either cherry-pick allegations or outright omit allegations inconvenient to their position, instead sanitizing them with euphemisms.”
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The lawsuit — which names Lizzo, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, and her dance captain, Shirlene Quigley as defendants — was filed back in August.
