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Lizzo says dancers’ sexual harassment claims are false

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US pop star Lizzo has said allegations by three of her ex-dancers, including sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, are “false”.

The singer called the last few days “gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing”.

“Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

The lawsuit also includes accusations of religious and racial harassment.

Discrimination, assault and false imprisonment are also listed in the legal case.

Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez are the former dancers bringing the case against the singer, her dance captain and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring (BGBT).

Ms Davis and Ms Williams were fired from the dance team, while Ms Rodriguez later resigned over the alleged treatment of her fellow colleagues.

On Wednesday Ms Williams told CBS she wanted to ensure that other dancers who work with Lizzo “don’t have to go through that same experience”.

The legal action, filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, includes allegations the dancers were pressured into attending sex shows and interacting with the dancers at the shows between 2021 and 2023.

Among the claims against Lizzo – whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson – are that she “pressured Ms Davis to touch the breasts” of a performer in a nightclub in Amsterdam, and Ms Davis – after resisting – eventually acquiesced “fearing it may harm her future on the team” if she didn’t do so.

“These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized.

Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed. These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.

“As an artist, I have always been very passionate about what I do. I take my music and my performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans.

With passion comes hard work and high standards. Sometimes I have to make hard decisions but it’s never my intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable or like they aren’t valued as an important part of the team.

“I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain that people and the media have portrayed me to be these last few days. I am very open with my sexuality and expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.

There is nothing I take more seriously than the respect we deserve as women in the world. I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.

“I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this. I want to thank everyone who has reached out in support to lift me up during this difficult time.”

Lizzo – who is known for celebrating her body and self-love – is also accused, along with dance choreographer Tanisha Scott, of fat-shaming Ms Davis on tour.

Ms Davis alleges the two questioned whether she was “struggling with something as she seemed less committed to her role on the dance cast”, the case details.

“In professional dance, a dancer’s weight gain is often seen as that dancer getting lazy or worse off as a performer. Lizzo’s and Ms Scott’s questions about Ms Davis’s commitment to the tour were thinly veiled concerns about Ms Davis’s weight gain,” the documents allege.

The case also alleges that staff working for BGBT scolded dancers for “unacceptable and disrespectful” behaviour while working on the tour, without specifying what that behaviour was.

The dancers allege that “only the dance cast – comprised of full-figured women of colour – were ever spoken to in this manner, giving [the dancers] the impression that these comments were charged with racial and fat-phobic animus”.

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Cab driver threatens to sue Adunni Ade for defamation

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An Indrive cab driver has threatened legal action against Nigerian actress Adunni Ade over a dispute stemming from his refusal to deliver her package.

It all began on September 18, 2024, when the actress called the driver named Frances Njoku and the hailing platform out on Instagram, alleging that he took off with her package and was not picking up calls. Her post garnered significant attention on social media, and her followers joined her to call Indrive out.

Later that night, Adunni Ade announced that the Njoku delivered her package after his profile was locked by the platform.

However, it did not end there. On September 19, Adunni Ade took to Instagram with screenshots showing all her interactions with Njoku and her fashion designer, who sent the package out.

Some of the screenshots showed a disgruntled Njoku slamming the actress for smearing his name and threatening legal action against her.

He wrote, “You have made nonsense of my image and I have contacted my legal team and we’ll see you in court. You are not the person who requested the ride. Many human rights activists and lawyers have called me and think I won’t let it go that way. You must render an unreserved apology and ask Instablog to pull the post down.”

In her post, Ade explained the context of all the screenshots she uploaded and emphasised that the driver was at fault.

She wrote in part, “One thing about me is I do not lie nor cheat my fellow being. When we speak of change, let that change start with you! With the current economic state, everyone is doing what they can to stay afloat irrespective of your finances.”

She concluded, “In my whole adult life of ordering and delivering or using services of logistic companies, I have never encountered anyone as rude, uncivilized, ill-mannered, arrogant, entitled as Frances Njoku.”

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Charly Boy opens up on rift, reconciliation with father

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Charly Boy, the ace Nigerian singer, has detailed his tale of rebellion and reconciliation with Chukwudifu Oputa, his late father.

Oputa, a former supreme court of Nigeria judge, died on May 11, 2014.

In a recent interview on WithChude, Charly Boy revealed that his decision to pursue music led to a fallout with his father.

The 73-year-old activist, born Charles Oputa, said after returning from the United States, he relocated to his village in Oguta, Imo state, where he lived for seven years due to financial struggles.

He said he “disowned my parents” who relocated to Lagos, adding that “the village robbed me of self-esteem”.

“I had disowned my parents. We were living in Owerri and my parents moved to Lagos. I moved back to the village because I had just returned from America. So I stayed in the village for seven years. I had no money. I had nothing. But that village robbed me of self-esteem. It robbed me of many things,” he said.

The singer, also called Area Fada, recalled how his rebellious nature often led to a clash with his father.

Charly Boy said he was frequently punished and whipped as a child, but eventually found a way to bond with Oputa.

“That is how I felt right from the day I was born. I want to go the other way. My thing with the status quo started from the house,” he said.

“Why should my father be telling us and giving us all these commands like time to eat, time to pray and all of that? I was just so tired of all that. It did not make sense to me.

“I was the one that was whipped most among my siblings. And I was the one that was punished the most because I would not do what I was asked to do.

“But then, my father forgot that he planted these things. He would say ‘query and investigate everything’. I used to have a vocal battle with him. I just did not understand. He just thought I was a kid from hell who needed to be punished and trashed seriously. I do not think we liked each other that much till everybody started getting mature and started to see the beauty of our personalities. Sometimes he would tease me and call me a pocket lawyer.

“At first, we could not agree on anything. And I found out that this was not enabling me to bond with my father. Till the day I decided I was going to flip it.”

On how they reconciled, the activist said during a tense conversation, he chose not to react to his father’s screaming.

Charly Boy, a former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), said he instead listened to his father as he spoke.

The singer said he then calmly asked his dad to listen to his perspective, marking a turning point in their strained relationship.

“One day, I came to him as usual to talk about something close to my mind. He started screaming and shouting and I did not shout back. I did not say anything,” he said.

“I listened to him very attentively. He was surprised he was not getting any reaction. After he said everything, I said ‘Daddy, I have listened to you, can you listen to me now?’

“He looked at me critically and that was the last day he shouted at me. That was the day everything changed. Because I found a new way of dealing with this man.

“After they retired I brought them to Abuja to live with me for almost 15 years. They died in my house. The greatest job I had was to take care of them.”

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I almost lost my life, Broda Shaggi reveals

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Samuel Perry, the Nigerian skit maker better known as Broda Shaggi, has revealed he almost lost his life.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday marking his 31st birthday, the comedian said he was grateful to God for sparing his life.

Shaggi said this year’s birthday is special because the “gift of life was almost taken from me recently”.

The skit maker said he considered being alive “my greatest gift” — without disclosing details of his near-death experience.

“Birthdays are usually not my thing. Infact I switch off my phone on these days cos I dislike receiving birthday calls and wishes. Only those who are close to me know Shaggi is not Samuel but that ain’t a discussion for today lol,” he wrote.

“But this particular birthday is different cos the gift of life was almost taken from me recently but God showed himself and gave me another chance.

“Infact this photoshoot was done last night lol. Today, I’m happy, I’m grateful, I’m honored cos I know some birthday mates who aren’t here to celebrate theirs. I’m no different from them but God has spared me for a reason I’m sure.

“For those who love me, God has already given me the greatest gift but if you wish to gift me today, all you need to do is listen to this Birthday song I made for myself. It’s available on every music platforms and you can also click the link in my bio.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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