Lizzo and her dance group captain, Shirlene Quigley are on the heart of a lawsuit filed by three of the singer’s former dancers. The lawsuit accuses the Grammy Award-winning singer of sexual harassment and claims she allowed a “hostile work setting” to run rampant beneath the management of Quigley’s oppressive non secular agenda.
The lawsuit — which was filed on August 1 and reported by NBC — claims Lizzo pressured her dancers to the touch nude performers at a strip membership in Amsterdam towards their will. They declare Lizzo and members of her group ridiculed them till they acquiesced, finally forcing them to take part.
Quigley is accused of proselytizing members of the dance group, and degrading those that don’t observe a Christian way of life as she does. Based on the go well with, one of many dancers, Arianna Davis, accused Quigley of ignoring requests to cease speaking about her virginity on social media and in public interviews, and when requested to stop pressuring her about her religion, replied, “No job and nobody will cease me from speaking in regards to the Lord.”
Though she won’t be a family identify like Lizzo, Quigley’s dance background has seen her partnering with numerous celebrities up to now, together with Beyoncé. Right here’s what to know in regards to the controversial dance captain.
Who’s Shirline Quigley?
Earlier than becoming a member of Lizzo’s group in 2019, Shirline Quigley — who turned knowledgeable dancer at 18 years outdated — was making a reputation for herself as one of the crucial sought-after dancers within the business. Her resume contains working with names corresponding to Beyoncé, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, Future’s Baby, Mary J. Blige, and extra. She is one in all Beyoncé’s unique “uhh ohh women” from the “Loopy In Love” music video.
Quigley is a trainer on the Broadway Dance Middle in New York Metropolis. She has carried out on the Grammys, the VMA’s, the Teen Selection Awards, the BET Awards, and extra. In 2021, she turned a choose on Lizzo’s actuality TV present Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Massive Grrrls, during which a bunch of contestants compete to affix Lizzo’s dance group, of which Quigley was captain. Two of the dancers who filed the lawsuit towards Lizzo and Quigley are former contestants of the present.
Quigley is a vocal believer in Christianity and is usually discovered selling the phrase of Jesus Christ on social media. Based on her web site, her mission is to “use the presents God has given her to encourage, inspire, and construct different nice leaders inside her business and ambiance.” Quigley typically refers to those that don’t imagine in God or Christianity as “nonbelievers.”
Within the video proven above from July 2022, Quigley briefly mentioned her time engaged on Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Massive Grrrls and talked about Arianna Davis as one in all her favourite contestants. Quigley commented on the good deal of respect she had for Davis when the dancer turned down a nude photoshoot as a part of one of many present’s challenges. “Arianna is a part of our tribe,” she mentioned. A yr later, Davis would go on to straight identify Quigley within the sexual harassment and hostile work setting lawsuit.
In 2016, Quigley was reported lacking. Singers Rihanna and Missy Elliot put the phrase out on social media, begging followers to report any info they’d relating to her whereabouts. Not lengthy after, the North Bergen Police Department reported Quigley to be secure and receiving therapy in an undisclosed location.
Neither Quigley nor Lizzo has commented on the lawsuit or the accusations of sexual harassment and a hostile work setting.