A federal judge in the United States has dismissed a lawsuit involving Melissa “Lizzo” Jefferson’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring (BGBT). The case, which included allegations of discrimination and harassment, was brought forth by former wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels.
Daniels had also accused her former supervisor, Amanda Nomura, of racial discrimination, a claim that was similarly ruled against by the court.
In response to the conclusion of this lengthy legal dispute, Lizzo took to social media. The multi-Grammy award-winning artist expressed her relief at the court’s decision, which she shared with her followers.
The legal action against BGBT, filed by Daniels in September 2023, claimed that senior staff members had created a hostile work environment. Daniels alleged that she experienced “degradation, forced physical labor, denial of medical care, sexual harassment, and racial harassment” during the European segment of Lizzo’s tour.
Additionally, Daniels had made four other claims asserting that she faced retaliation after voicing her complaints. By the end of 2024, an eighth allegation against BGBT regarding violations of U.S. labor standards was also dismissed.
On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha dismissed the remaining seven claims. According to the judge’s review, while the alleged behaviors were deemed inappropriate and unprofessional, they did not meet the legal standards established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as they were considered part of the ordinary challenges of the workplace.
Regarding an incident where a clothing rack allegedly ran over Daniels’s foot, Judge Aenlle-Rocha concluded that her injuries were not sufficiently severe or long-lasting to be classified as disabilities.
Daniels’s accusations against Nomura, which included using racial slurs towards Black women, were also dismissed. The judge remarked that there was no evidence presented to substantiate these claims.
Initially named as a defendant in the suit, Lizzo was removed from the legal proceedings in 2024.
