Some of Lizzo’s backup dancers want her to know just how “special” of a time they had on The Special Tour.
Amid the lawsuit filed against the rapper and pop singer, 35, by several of her former dancers alleging sexual, racial and religious harassment and poor working conditions, several other members of her dance crew have shared a statement of support.
Lizzo’s Big Grrrl and Big Boiii dancers shared positive words directed towards her on their official Instagram on Thursday. In a lengthy statement, they wrote about how they had “the time of [their] lives” on The Special Tour and said they “have been so honored to share the stage with such amazing talent.”
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“This tour experience has been beyond just #Special!” the statement said. “The commitment to character and culture taking precedence over every movement and moment has been one of the Greatest lessons and Blessings that we could possibly ask for.”
The Instagram post, which also included a carousel of onstage and behind-the-scenes photos and footage from the tour, also directly addresses the “About Damn Time” performer. “THANK YOU to Lizzo for shattering limitations and kicking in the doorway for the Big Grrrl & Big Boiii Dancers to do what we love! You have created a platform where we have been able to parallel our Passion with a purpose! Not only for Us, but for Women and All people breaking Barriers,” they wrote.
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The statement continued, “We’ve been traveling and exploring new horizons of the world. So many advantages to prevailing over hardships that society and the entertainment and beauty industry can bring… So Grateful that the standards and existence of Beauty in THIS Team goes beyond the surface! Our collective gifts have authentically powered the type of energy, love and that support can physiologically help heal the world. We are a unit of unicorns, undeniably resilient and SPECIAL AF.”
The post was signed “Love, the Big Grrrls & Big Boiiis,” and included a series of hearts “🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🤎🖤🤍” in the caption.
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The statement comes days after footage captured Beyoncé voicing her support for the rapper, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson. While performing “Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)” during her Renaissance World Tour, a now-viral clip captured Beyoncé shouting, “Lizzo! I love you Lizzo!” into the mic.
The superstar, 41, had previously omitted Lizzo’s name from a part of the song in which she names various iconic singers on Aug. 1 but named her again on Monday.
Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring and dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, are in the midst of a lawsuit that was filed on Aug. 1 by three of her former dancers — Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez. Williams and Davis have also since cited wrongful termination, with Rodriguez claiming she resigned from her role to protest their firings.
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The day after the lawsuit was announced, the “Truth Hurts” artist responded with a statement, calling the allegations “outrageous.”
A source close to Lizzo’s team also told PEOPLE that she felt “blindsided” by the accusations. They said, “She’s been building and building her life and career, and getting achievement after achievement. It blindsided her and her team and is a wakeup call that all of that can be instantly diminished by something like this, just overnight.”
Attorney Ronald Zambrano, who represents the plaintiffs, spoke with PEOPLE about the claims against the Grammy winner, saying his clients were traumatized up to the last day they were employed by her in spring 2023.
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“The theme that I’m hearing is that there’s an external persona that Lizzo presents, inclusivity and come as you are, but in private, it was very different,” Zambrano said. “And that’s what came across to me in talking to these young ladies. Lizzo was very different privately.”
The plaintiffs recently spoke with PEOPLE, maintaining that what they filed in court was true.
“We were treated poorly. Nobody did anything about it when we tried to speak up and advocate for ourselves. So now we’re doing it,” Williams told PEOPLE exclusively. “I know that my mind feels a lot clearer. There was a lot of anxiety and a lot of feelings of being overwhelmed once our suit was made public. But today, I feel very proud to be pursuing this with these ladies.”
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Source: HIS Education