Lizzo has scored a significant legal victory in the workplace harassment lawsuit that was filed last year by her former tour employee Asha Daniels. A California federal judge ruled that Daniels does not have the standing to sue Lizzo as an individual because she named the musician’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and payroll company, CAPS, as her direct employers, with Lizzo characterized as a “managing agent,” according to documents obtained by Pitchfork. That means that Lizzo is no longer a party in the case—just Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc.
When reached by Pitchfork, one of Daniels’ attorneys, Ron Zambrano, shared, “The ruling was based on a jurisdictional limit of Title VII and FLSA claims that no individual can be liable for those claims. Ergo, Lizzo and her tour manager, as individuals, cannot be defendants.” He added, “Lizzo and her tour manager will still be deposed in this matter.”
Asha Daniels, who said she worked in Lizzo’s wardrobe department on tour, filed her complaint in September 2023. She claimed that she was subjected to hostile working conditions and that she heard racist and fatphobic comments from members of Lizzo’s team.
Not long before Daniels filed her lawsuit, Lizzo was sued by three touring dancers for sexual harassment, racial harassment, and disability discrimination. Lizzo called the allegations “false” and said they are “as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”
Pitchfork has reached out to Lizzo’s representatives and attorneys for comment.
