Things may be sweet onstage for Lizzo, but behind the glitter and grooves, her 2023 European tour is now under a harsh spotlight—and it's not for the choreography. This week in a Los Angeles courtroom, former wardrobe assistant Asha Daniels pleaded with a judge to let a jury decide whether her rights were trampled on during her time working with Lizzo's touring company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc. The accusations? Sexual harassment, racial discrimination, unsafe work conditions, and a workplace culture that Daniels says was anything but "good as hell."
According to Daniels' court filing, the behind-the-scenes environment was laced with penis-shaped candy, lewd jokes, and even images of male genitalia on display in common areas. If it sounds like something out of a wild backstage comedy sketch, Daniels says it was her reality—and not a funny one.
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The filing also outlines racial harassment claims. Daniels, who is Black, alleged that her supervisor, Amanda Nomura, repeatedly mocked Black women, withheld essential supplies from Black performers, and used offensive gestures and language. Daniels said she raised these concerns, but instead of action, she got silence.
It wasn't just about inappropriate behavior and discrimination, though. Daniels also described grueling workdays that started as early as 6 a.m. and stretched past midnight, with little to no breaks. When she was injured on the job, she requested modest accommodations: a doctor's visit, the ability to sit while working, and a lower bunk to sleep in. Management, she says, ignored every request.
Things came to a head in March 2023 when Daniels was suddenly let go. Depending on who you ask, she either quit, wasn't a "good fit," or was dismissed with vague reasoning. Daniels says the shifting storylines are no coincidence, but they're a form of retaliation for speaking up.
In her filing, she's not asking the judge for money. Not yet, anyway. What she wants is for the court to let a jury hear her whole story, allowing a group of her peers to decide whether what happened behind the scenes of one of pop's biggest tours crossed legal lines.
Daniels is also requesting permission to correct a clerical error in her complaint, a minor typo, from a legal perspective, but one that needs to be addressed to maintain the validity of her retaliation claim.
Lizzo and her team have denied all the allegations. So far, they've asked the court to toss the case through a motion for summary judgment. If granted, that would mean no trial, no jury, and no further courtroom drama. But Daniels is pushing back, saying the details deserve daylight.
As fans continue to stream Lizzo's hits and sing along to her empowerment anthems, one former team member is fighting for her version of justice behind the curtain. Whether a jury will decide the case will be determined later this year.
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