Lizzo wins dismissal of former stylist's discrimination lawsuit
Lizzo wins dismissal of former stylist's discrimination lawsuit
Liza Esquibias, USA TODAYTue, September 1, 2026 at 11:51 PM UTC
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Nearly three years after a former wardrobe stylist sued Lizzo and her production company, Big Grrrl Touring, the case has been dismissed.
California federal judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha tossed designer Asha Daniels' remaining claims in her harassment and discrimination lawsuit on Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Daniels, who designed custom pieces for Lizzo's dancers during the singer's 2023 tour, filed the complaint in September 2023 against the singer, 38, Big Grrrl Touring and others who worked on The Special Tour. She alleged sexual and racial harassment, disability discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment.
Lizzo, who has denied the allegations, was dropped as an individual defendant in the lawsuit the following year.
In a statement to USA TODAY, the Grammy-winner's lawyer Melissa Glass, of Singer Weinsten Wolf & Jonelis LLP, called the ruling "a total victory for Lizzo, her touring company and the other defendants named in Asha Daniels’ ludicrous lawsuit."
"There was never any basis for Ms. Daniels to sue Lizzo, her touring company, her tour manager or her wardrobe manager. Indeed, the case against Lizzo was thrown out in December 2024. We are exploring all avenues to enforce our clients’ rights after this major win," Glass said.
Legal battle: Lizzo and her wardrobe manager sued by former employee alleging harassment, hostile work environment
Lizzo also spoke out in a post to her social media, which featured a video of her standing in silence while text played across the screen. "The truth matters to me more than anything and I told y'all I will not settle and will continue to fight every vicious claim that has been made against me and my businesses," she wrote in part, adding that she is "relieved" by the outcome.
Judge says Asha Daniels' claims do not meet legal standards
In his ruling, Aenlle-Rocha wrote that Daniels "has not and cannot identify any conduct by [Big Grrrl Touring], or its employees, that demonstrates general hostility to women in the workplace or disparate treatment of men and women."
While he called the allegations "inappropriate and unprofessional," Aenlle-Rocha added they fall into what the Supreme Court has described as the "ordinary tribulations of the workplace."
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Aenlle-Rocha also addressed Daniels' alleged injuries, which included having a heavy clothing rack rolled over her foot by a wardrobe manager, breaking a nail while loading boxes and suffering an allergic reaction.
While "the court does not seek to minimize or disregard the pain" Daniels experienced, the judge found that her injuries "were insufficiently severe or long-term to qualify as disabilities."
Daniels' attorney, Ron Zambrano, also addressed the decision in a statement to USA TODAY, saying they are "disappointed" and "believe the decision improperly weighed evidence that should have been evaluated by a jury."
"In our view, the ruling appears to minimize evidence of a sexually charged work environment by assessing incidents too narrowly (i.e., pictures of penises and sexually charged comments by managers), rather than considering their cumulative impact," he continued. "We disagree that an employee twisting her ankle and limping while trying to work does not meet the legal standard of a disability under the ADA."
Zambrano concluded: "These are important issues because these claims often depend on how a jury evaluates the full workplace environment, the surrounding context, and disputed facts. We respectfully disagree with the Court’s approach and are considering appropriate next steps."
Daniels' initial filing came one month after Lizzo was sued by her former dancers, who accused the singer of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, among other allegations. At the time, the musician called the allegations "sensationalized stories" and said they were "unbelievable" and "outrageous."
While the fat-shaming claim was dismissed in December 2025, the case remains ongoing.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lizzo wins dismissal of former stylist's discrimination lawsuit
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