Lizzo is opening up about the emotional toll she experienced after being hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit by three of her former backup dancers in 2023.
In the July issue of Women’s Health, the Grammy-winning artist reflected on the accusations from Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez, who claimed Lizzo created a hostile work environment and engaged in inappropriate behavior—including alleged weight-shaming and misconduct at a party in Amsterdam.
Following the lawsuit, Lizzo admitted she spiraled into a period of isolation. “I became very paranoid and isolated,” she shared. “I used to walk into glam and be like, ‘Oh, let me tell you about this crazy shit that happened last night!’ I couldn’t do that anymore.”
She revealed that the situation left her feeling betrayed and hesitant to open up, leading her to “push everyone away” during one of the most difficult times in her career.
Lizzo revealed just how deeply the sexual harassment lawsuit affected her, admitting, “I pushed everyone away.”
“I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore,” she told Women’s Health.
The emotional weight of the allegations left her drained and broken, to the point where she nearly gave up on everything. “It got to the point where I was like, ‘I could die.’ I never attempted to kill myself or thought about it, but I did think, If everyone hates you and thinks you’re a terrible person, then what’s the point?”
Lizzo’s remarks come months after multiple claims in the lawsuit were dismissed last December, but the emotional impact clearly still lingers.
After stepping away from the spotlight for a while, Lizzo made a public appearance at one of Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour stops—and what she expected to be a nightmare turned out to be a moment of healing.
She recalled bracing herself to be booed, only to be met with overwhelming support from the crowd. “It made me feel like, ‘Wow, maybe I don’t want to die,’” Lizzo shared. “Life is worth living. That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your fucking life back.’”
Though several claims in the lawsuit were dismissed, Lizzo hasn’t backed down. Just last month, she appealed the case, describing it as an “attack” on her right to free speech, according to Billboard.
