The director and filmmaker — who is best known for her work creating theOscar-nominateddocumentaryA Love Song for Latasha— said she had been considering directing Lizzo’s documentary. She said she traveled briefly with the 35-year-old star in 2019, but had ultimately made the decision to “walk away after about 2 weeks.”
She described a “s—ty situation” with the pop star that ultimately led her to bow out of the job.
“I was not protected and was thrown into a s—ty situation with little support,” Allison said. “My spirit said to run as fast as you f—ing can and I’m so grateful I trusted my gut.”
Director Sophia Nahli Allison attends a 2020 Sundance Film Festival screening at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2020.Getty
Getty
She continued, “I felt gaslit and was deeply hurt, but I’ve healed.”
Allison seemingly went on to address the lawsuit against Lizzo, whichclaims that the singer put dancers— Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez — in unwanted situations, including being pressured to touch nude performers while at a club in Amsterdam and having endured weight shaming.
“Reading these reports made me realize how dangerous of a situation it was,” she said.
Allison laterreturned to the platform to share moresince initially going public about her time with Lizzo.
Sophia Nahli Allison; Lizzo.Getty Images
Getty Images
Allison went on to claim that Lizzo “is a narcissistic bully and has built her brand off of lies. I was excited to support and protect a Black woman through the documentary process quickly learned her image and ‘message’ was a curated facade.”
“This is all true,” Sanchez wrote on Instagram. “I had to vent to so many of my friends about it. It was such a small crew and the experience working with Lizzo was a nightmare.” Allison and Sanchez have not yet responded to PEOPLE’s request for further comment on the allegations.
Lizzo performs during the Governors Ball Music Festival 2023.Getty
Representatives for Lizzo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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The lawsuit also named Lizzo’s dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley, with the dancers accusing her of proselytizing those around her, shaming people who engaged in premarital sex and sharing details of her masturbatory habits.
The dancers also claimed they faced racial harassment from BGBT management, which they allege “treated the Black members of the dance team differently than other members.”
A rep for Lizzo has not yet replied to PEOPLE’s request for comment, and Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc. could not be reached for comment. Quigley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
source: people.com
