Grammy-winning singer Lizzo broke her relative silence on December 15, 2025, regarding a key development in her long-running legal battle with three former backup dancers, after they abandoned their appeal of dismissed fat-shaming claims. In a video posted to Instagram and TikTok, the artist—standing silently while text overlaid her statement—declared the allegations "never happened" and vowed to fight the remaining accusations without settling.
"The fat-shaming claims against me have been officially dropped by my accusers. They conceded it had no merit in court," Lizzo's on-screen text read. She explained that the dancers were not fired for weight gain but for "taking a private recording" of her without consent and sharing it with former employees. "This claim has haunted me since the day it came out. It has been devastating to suffer through this in silence," she added, thanking her legal team and expressing gratitude for the partial victory. "I am still in a legal battle. I am not settling. I will be fighting every single claim until the truth is out."
The development stems from a 2023 lawsuit filed by dancers Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez, and Crystal Williams, who accused Lizzo (real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson) and her production company of creating a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and discrimination. A central allegation involved claims that Lizzo fat-shamed Davis during rehearsals for her 2023 Special Tour, commenting on her weight and implying it affected her performance, leading to her termination.
In a February 2024 ruling, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark H. Epstein dismissed the fat-shaming-related claims under California's anti-SLAPP statute, which protects against lawsuits aimed at chilling free speech. The judge found the allegations lacked merit and were contradicted by evidence, including that Davis was fired after unauthorized recording of a private meeting. Lizzo's attorneys, Marty Singer and Melissa Y. Glass, bolstered their defense with sworn declarations from 18 witnesses who worked on the tour, refuting the fat-shaming accusations.
The dancers initially appealed the dismissal but, in late 2025, chose to drop it, effectively removing those claims permanently. Singer and Glass described this as a significant win, stating the evidence "blew the fat-shaming allegations out of the water." They emphasized that no corroborating witnesses supported the dancers' version, contrasting with the 18 declarations in Lizzo's favor.
However, the broader lawsuit continues. Remaining allegations include claims that Lizzo pressured dancers to participate in uncomfortable activities during a February 2023 visit to Amsterdam's Bananenbar, a club known for explicit performances involving fruit, and similar incidents in Paris. The plaintiffs also allege false imprisonment, religious harassment, and racial discrimination. In early 2024, Judge Epstein allowed most of these claims to proceed to trial, denying Lizzo's full motion to dismiss.
The plaintiffs' attorney, Ronald Zambrano, downplayed the dropped claims, stating his clients took a "considered approach" to not appeal while maintaining the core case's strength. "We are maintaining that Judge Epstein was correct in his ruling denying Lizzo's special motion to strike the vast majority of claims... including false imprisonment and harassment," Zambrano said. He expressed disappointment in the defendants' lack of "intellectual honesty."
Lizzo has consistently denied all allegations since the suit was filed in August 2023, calling them "unbelievable" and "outrageous" in an initial statement. The case garnered widespread media attention, partly due to irony—Lizzo has long been celebrated as a body-positivity advocate, promoting self-love for larger bodies through hits like "Juice" and public campaigns. The fat-shaming accusations particularly stung, as she noted in her recent post: "I have only encouraged and supported people with bigger bodies and shared my platform with them."
The lawsuit has taken an emotional toll on Lizzo, who in a 2024 interview described feeling "blindsided," "paranoid," and "isolated." Despite the ongoing battle, she has continued her career, appearing at events like the 2025 Met Gala and sharing updates on her personal health journey, including significant weight loss.
This partial resolution highlights the complexities of workplace disputes in the entertainment industry, where touring conditions, power dynamics, and personal boundaries often collide. As the case heads toward potential trial, both sides remain entrenched, with Lizzo determined to clear her name entirely.
