Lizzo‘s recent post about quitting music because of the constant negativity surrounding her name has prompted a vicious response from a lawyer who is representing one of the superstar’s former backup dancers in a sexual harassment lawsuit.
In a statement obtained by Billboard on Monday (April 1), Los Angeles-based attorney Ron Zambrano wrote: “It’s a joke that Lizzo would say she is being bullied by the internet when she should instead be taking an honest look at herself.”
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He continued: “Her latest post is just another outburst seeking attention and trying to deflect from her own failings as she continues to blame everyone else for the predicament she is in. Lizzo’s legal and public relations strategy is a failure, so she is desperately trying to play the victim.
“She has thrown these childish tantrums before. No one actually believes she is quitting music. But she should quit sexually harassing, shaming and bullying her employees and finally accept responsibility for her actions.”
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In making his point, he also referenced the recent allegations against Diddy as well as former Nickelodeon executive Dan Schneider.
“She can make all of this go away simply by seizing the opportunity here to set an example, own up to her mistakes, pay what’s due to those she’s wronged and work on becoming a better person,” he said.
“Celebrity toxicity is poisoning the entertainment industry with Diddy and Dan Schneider being the latest examples, and Lizzo’s conduct will not be tolerated, either. There is no more safe place in society for this sort of behavior as the entire industry is in for a reckoning for permitting such vile treatment of employees in the workplace.”
In late March, the 35-year-old shared a candid message on Instagram, opening up about the personal struggles she’s been facing. These challenges, according to the note, have led her to make the difficult decision to take a step back from the music industry.
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“I’m getting tired of putting up with getting dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet,” she wrote. “All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.
“I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views … being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look … my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”
Signing off, she declared: “I didn’t sign up for this shit – I QUIT.”
