Lizzo can breathe a sigh of relief, since a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against her by her former backup dancer has temporarily been put on pause.
Court documents obtained by Billboard reveal that Judge Mark Epstein ordered the case to be stayed as of Thursday (March 7), as Lizzo’s attorneys appeal a ruling against having it thrown out.
Epstein denied Lizzo’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that the suit violated California’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) laws, which prevent people and corporations from filing frivolous lawsuits to stifle free speech.
It is expected to take several months for the appeals process to conclude.
Earlier this month, Epstein denied the singer’s motion to throw out her sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three of her former backup dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez.
It’s important to note that while certain accusations have been dismissed — such as claims that Lizzo fat-shamed one of her dancers — the case as a whole will go to trial.
“It is dangerous for the court to weigh in, ham-fisted, into constitutionally protected activity,” the judge wrote. “But it is equally dangerous to turn a blind eye to allegations of discrimination or other forms of misconduct merely because they take place in a speech-related environment,” Epstein wrote in his decision.
The judge’s decision echoes a November opposition filing submitted by the dancer’s legal team, contending that the anti-SLAPP statutes do not shield Lizzo from potential legal consequences for the allegations made against her.
They wrote in the 19-page filing obtained by Rolling Stone: “Can a global celebrity be forever insulated from civil liability because all their conduct is protected as free speech under the anti-SLAPP statute? Defendant Lizzo asks this Court to rule in exactly that fashion. Fortunately for all victims of celebrity malfeasance, the law says otherwise.”
They added: “In an apparent effort to dupe this Court, Defendants either cherry-pick allegations or outright omit allegations inconvenient to their position, instead sanitizing them with euphemisms.”
The lawsuit — which names Lizzo, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, and her dance captain, Shirlene Quigley as defendants — was filed last August.