Icon of positivity - Can Lizzo brand survive damaging claims?

She is a feminist icon and champion of body positivity, with lyrics that encourage self love and empowerment. Own your curves; dump that man; cash those checks - so go the commandments at the church of Lizzo, where millions of followers worship and find acceptance.

- Nadia Khomami

So when news broke this week that the singer and her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, were being sued by three former dancers, her fans were left stunned.

A list of accusations by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez included sexual, religious and racial harassment, discrimination, false imprisonment, fat-shaming, and creating a hostile work environment. According to the suit, Lizzo allegedly pressured one dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam and subjected several dancers to an "excruciating" 12-hour audition.

Her dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, was also accused of pushing her Christian beliefs on performers and denigrating those who had premarital sex.

The plaintiffs' lawyer said: "The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but demoralising."

In response, Lizzo - fresh off the back of her globally successful The Special Tour - released a statement calling the claims "sensationalised stories" that were "as unbelievable as they sound". "I am not here to be looked at as a victim, but I also know that I am not the villain," the singer said. The last few days, she added, had been "gut wrenchingly difficult and disappointing".