Grammy-winning artist Lizzo has secured a significant legal victory after a judge dismissed allegations of fat-shaming brought against her by three former dancers.
Judge Rules Claims Barred by First Amendment
The ruling, delivered in 2024, found that the fat-shaming claims were barred by First Amendment protections and were contradicted by evidence presented in court. The dancers—Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez—had initially filed the lawsuit in August 2023, accusing Lizzo and her production company of creating a hostile work environment that included sexual harassment and fat-shaming.
However, the judge determined the evidence showed the dancers were dismissed for a different reason: recording a private meeting without Lizzo's consent and sending it to ex-employees. The dancers appealed the 2024 decision but withdrew that appeal in November 2025.
Lizzo's Emotional Public Response
On Monday 15 December 2025, the 37-year-old "About Damn Time" singer addressed the development in a video statement shared on TikTok and Instagram. "The fat-shaming claims against me have been officially dropped by my accusers," Lizzo stated. "They conceded it had no merit in court. There was no evidence that I fired them because they gained weight. Because it never happened."
She vehemently denied the core allegation, insisting, "I have never fired an employee for gaining weight." Instead, Lizzo said she has consistently "encouraged and supported people with bigger bodies and shared my platform with them."
The singer described the toll of the allegation, saying it "has haunted me since the day it came out" and that it was "devastating to suffer through this in silence." She expressed gratitude for the legal victory but noted the broader battle continues, stating, "I am still in a legal battle. I am not settling. I will be fighting every single claim until the truth is out."
Ongoing Lawsuit and Reputational Damage
While the fat-shaming claims have been dismissed, other elements of the dancers' lawsuit are proceeding. These include allegations of sexual harassment, specifically that Lizzo pressured staffers to touch a nude performer at a strip club during a trip to Amsterdam. Lizzo's legal team has labelled these remaining claims a "fabricated sob story."
In a statement to Billboard on 11 December, Lizzo's attorney, Martin Glass, said, "As was true two years ago, the dancers cannot find a single person to corroborate their meritless claims." He contrasted this with sworn statements from 18 witnesses who worked on Lizzo's Special tour, all of which refuted the dancers' allegations.
The claims have struck at the heart of Lizzo's carefully cultivated public image. The singer has built a globally successful brand around body positivity, self-love, and empowerment, making the accusations particularly damaging to her reputation. When the lawsuit first emerged in 2023, Lizzo responded on Instagram, saying her "work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned" by "unbelievable" and "outrageous" allegations.
She asserted then that she was "not the villain" portrayed in media reports and vowed not to let the "good work I've done in the world be overshadowed by this." The recent court decision represents a crucial step in her efforts to legally and publicly clear her name.
