Judge Tosses Part Of Dancers’ Lawsuit Against Lizzo As Case Moves Forward

The condensed version of the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the singer can move forward to trial.

A judge tossed out several parts of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against singer Lizzo by her former dancers, but will allow the case to proceed to trial.

In August, three former backup dancers filed a lawsuit against Lizzo claiming that she physically threatened, weight-shamed and sexually harassed them. In the suit, dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez allege a hostile work environment, sexual, religious and racial harassment, assault and false imprisonment, among other accusations.

Lizzo denied “each and every allegation” outlined in the “outrageous” lawsuit. In October, she requested to have it dismissed under California’s anti-SLAPP statute — a law meant to quickly put an end to meritless lawsuits that threaten free speech, Billboard reported.

In a ruling this week, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark H. Epstein decided that the anti-SLAPP statute doesn’t apply to all the allegations against the singer.

“It is dangerous for the court to weigh in, ham-fisted, into constitutionally protected activity,” the judge wrote in the court filing. “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.”