American singer Lizzo’s touring company has secured a major legal victory after a US federal judge dismissed the remaining claims in a lawsuit brought by a former wardrobe assistant.
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, is a Grammy-winning pop and R&B singer known for hits including Truth Hurts and About Damn Time.
US District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha on Tuesday, September 1, granted summary judgment in favour of Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., bringing former wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels’ nearly three-year legal battle against the company to an end.
Daniels filed the lawsuit in September 2023 after working on the European leg of Lizzo’s Special Tour.
She accused members of the touring team of sexual and racial harassment, bullying, disability discrimination, retaliation and creating a hostile work environment.
Among her allegations, Daniels claimed she was subjected to sexually charged comments and gestures, racist and fat-phobic remarks, and unsafe working conditions.
She also alleged that a wardrobe manager rolled a heavy clothing rack over her foot and later pushed her.
Daniels brought several claims against the company, although some had already been dismissed during the litigation. The latest ruling disposed of the remaining claims.
In his ruling, Judge Aenlle-Rocha found that Daniels had not presented sufficient evidence to establish violations of federal employment laws.
The judge acknowledged that some of the alleged conduct was “inappropriate and unprofessional”, but ruled that it did not meet the legal threshold required under Title VII for a hostile work environment or discriminatory treatment.
He also rejected Daniels’ disability discrimination claim, finding that the injuries she described did not meet the legal definition of a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Daniels’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, criticised the decision, arguing that evidence concerning the alleged sexually charged workplace should have been considered cumulatively by a jury.
He said the legal team was considering its next steps, including a possible appeal.
Lizzo celebrated the ruling in an Instagram post, saying she was relieved and that the truth had prevailed.
Standing on a balcony against a scenic backdrop, the singer smiled at the camera as text appeared on screen.
“Today I am relieved to announce that I have won my case against me and my touring company Big Grrrl Big Touring,” she wrote.
“All the ridiculous claims by a wardrobe assistant who worked on tour for less than three weeks, including a claim that she broke an acrylic nail, have been dismissed.”
Lizzo also pointed out that Daniels had worked on the tour for less than three weeks.
The singer herself was dismissed from the case as an individual defendant in December 2024 after the court found that the relevant touring and payroll companies, rather than Lizzo personally, were Daniels’ employers.
The latest ruling therefore concerns the remaining claims against Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., rather than a finding that Lizzo personally was liable for the allegations brought by Daniels