US pop star Lizzo has expressed relief after a district judge dismissed the remaining claims in a lawsuit filed against her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring. The legal action was initiated in September 2023 by Asha Daniels, a former wardrobe assistant who alleged she had been subjected to racial and sexual harassment, forced physical labor, and a denial of medical care during her brief tenure with the company.
District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha issued the ruling on Tuesday, effectively clearing the production firm of the outstanding allegations. This follows a 2024 decision by the same judge that prevented Daniels from pursuing the Grammy-winning singer as an individual defendant, though the company remained a party to the suit until this week’s dismissal.
In his written ruling, Judge Aenlle-Rocha noted that the plaintiff failed to identify specific conduct by employees that would establish a pattern of disparate treatment based on gender or general hostility toward women in the workplace. While acknowledging the incidents described were “inappropriate and unprofessional,” the judge determined they did not rise to the level of legal protection under the “ordinary tribulations of the workplace.”
The court also addressed a specific claim regarding an injury the stylist sustained when a heavy clothes rack ran over her foot. Although the judge stated the court did not intend to minimize the pain experienced by the plaintiff, he concluded that the injury did not meet the legal criteria for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Following the court’s decision, Lizzo took to Instagram to address the outcome. “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. The singer, whose legal name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, thanked her legal team and stated her intention to continue using her platform to promote positivity.
Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing Daniels, expressed disappointment with the ruling. He argued that the court improperly weighed evidence that should have been presented to a jury and disagreed with the finding that the stylist’s injury did not qualify as a disability under the ADA. Zambrano indicated that his team is currently reviewing the decision and considering appropriate next steps.
This lawsuit was separate from a previous legal challenge brought by three of Lizzo’s former tour dancers. While some allegations from that earlier case, including claims of fat-shaming, were dismissed by a judge in 2025, other accusations—such as sexual harassment—remain contested by the singer’s team.
Lizzo maintains that she will continue to defend herself against all remaining claims. Her representatives have been contacted for further comment regarding the latest developments in the case. The report also notes that the surrounding context, and disputed facts,” he said, these are important issues because these claims often depend on how a jury evaluates the full workplace environment. The report also notes that lizzo thanked her lawyers and sent love to her supporters in an Instagram post.
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