Anish Vij
Beyoncé's mom has spoken out after her famous daughter skipped Lizzo's name from one of her songs amid sexual harassment allegations against the 'About Damn Time' singer.
On Tuesday night (1 August), Beyoncé was performing 'Break My Soul' during her Renaissance World Tour in Boston, Massachusetts, the same day Lizzo - real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson - and her production company were sued by three former dancers over alleged sexual harassment and a 'hostile work environment'.
The lawsuit was filed against the singer and production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc (BGBT).
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Her three former dancers - Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez - claim they were subjected to sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment, among other allegations.
In part, the lawsuit details a trip to Amsterdam’s red light district, in February 2023, in which performers were allegedly pressured to come along on nights out, as those who attended afterparties 'were widely considered to enjoy greater job security'.
One visit to a club named Bananenbar allegedly resulted in performers being encouraged to touch nude performers by Lizzo.
“Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed,” the complaint read.
As the allegations were made on the same night of the Beyoncé concert, fans believe that the 41-year-old left Lizzo's name out of her song on purpose.
The lyric mentioning Lizzo goes: "Betty Davis, Solange Knowles / [Erykah Badu], Lizzo, Kelly Rowl' (You know you can do it)."
As seen in concert footage on social media, Queen B replaces Lizzo's line with four repetitions of 'Badu'.
Some fans also thought Bey was throwing shade at Erykah Badu, who recently accused the pop star of copying her style.
However, according to her mom, Tina Knowles, the lyrical change was neither here nor there.
Taking to social media, a fan commented that the lyrical change was like 'hitting 2 birds with 1 stone,' suggesting that Beyoncé was addressing both Lizzo and Erykah.
"She also say her own sisters name," Tina replied to the comment, "yal should really stop."
This comes after Lizzo posted a heartfelt Instagram video in June, sharing the moment Beyoncé displayed her name over the crowd during her Renaissance tour.
“In that moment I was thinking about baby me, listening to 'Happy Face' by Destiny’s child and crying myself to sleep because of bullies,” Lizzo wrote in the post.
“I thought about Beyoncé jumping into the room where Tina Turner was waiting to meet her for the first time.
“I think of what we all mean to people and how cyclical it is.
“We are all so infinitesimally and maximally connected and significant. It’s an honor. Thank You @beyonce.”
UNILAD has contacted Beyoncé, Lizzo's representatives and the dancers' attorney for comment.