The strongly worded claim says it was filed by a “disgruntled” former employee who was fired after three weeks on the job.
Lizzie’s lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss a harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed by a “disgruntled” former employee and the singer’s tour outfit designer.
On Friday, the 35-year-old “Juice” singer’s legal team asked to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Asha Daniels in September in a Los Angeles court, saying it was “baseless and mean-spirited.”
In documents obtained by PEOPLE, Lizzo’s attorney claimed that Daniels, 35, “failed to complete the work assigned to her and ended up just joking around and refusing to show up for work.”
She was subsequently fired after “abandoning her position” on the day of Lizzo’s concert in Paris, France.
Lizzo’s attorneys want the case dismissed, citing two reasons: it was filed in the wrong location, and Daniels is “a New York resident who worked for a Delaware corporation in Europe.” Therefore, the designer “did not claim to be associated with California.”
Lizza.
David M. Bennett/Dave Bennett/Getty Images
Lizzo with another lawsuit: Designer claims her team fostered ‘racist and sexualised’ work environment on tour
Los Angeles attorney Ron Zambrano, who represents Daniels and is a partner and chair of Employment Litigation at West Coast Employment Lawyers, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the request is “another Hail Mary by the Lizzo team to try to shift the blame to the victims, as which she did with three other plaintiffs who sued her over similar allegations of harassment, disability discrimination and retaliatory discharge.”
He continued: “Lizzo and her lawyers can continue to try to rationalize her illegal and deplorable behavior, but we remain committed to seeking justice for our clients and look forward to our day in court where Lizzo can explain her behavior in a public forum.”
Lizzo’s legal team did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Lizza.
Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty
Daniels, who toured with Lizzo earlier this year, filed a lawsuit against the singer and members of her team, claiming that while Lizzo preached body positivity and inclusion, her employees were forced to work in a “racist and sexualized” environment.
The lawsuit was filed against the star, her production company, her wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura and her tour manager Carline Gugliotta, among others, alleging they made racist and homophobic comments and denied her medical care, leading to anxiety and PTSD .
“I felt like I was living in an insane asylum. It was totally shocking,” Daniels told NBC News at the time. “I was listening to this black woman on this huge stage having this message of self-love and care for others, empathy, strength and standing up for others. And I witnessed myself, the dancers and backing vocalists and my local crew in every city being harassed and mistreated on a regular basis.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
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Lizzo performs on stage at Madison Square Garden in October 2022.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Who are the former backup dancers suing Lizzo? All about Noelle Rodriguez, Arianna Davis and Crystal Williams
Daniels’ allegations parallel a previous lawsuit filed in August by three of Liz’s former dancers — Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez — who claimed they faced sexual, racial and religious harassment on Liz’s tour. The performer of “About Damn Time” rejected all the accusations against her, saying on social networks that “she is not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me as in recent days”.
“Lizzo is the boss, so she stops worrying,” Zambrano said in a statement on behalf of prosecutors. “She has created a sexualized and racially charged environment on her tours that her management staff sees as condoning such behavior and continues unchecked. Lizzo certainly knows what is going on but chooses not to put an end to this disgusting and illegal behavior and participates herself.”
At the time, Lizzo’s rep, Stefan Friedman, told PEOPLE in a statement, “As Lizzo receives a humanitarian award tonight from the Black Music Action Coalition for the incredible charity work she’s done to uplift all people, an ambulance-chasing lawyer is trying to tarnish this honor by recruiting someone to file a false, absurd publicity stunt lawsuit who, wait a minute, has never actually met or even spoken to Lizzo. We’re going to give this all the attention it deserves. None.”
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