In pictures: What are the charges against US rapper Lizzo?

It all started last week, when three former dancers accused Grammy-winning US rapper Lizzo of sexual harassment. The dancers also alleged the singer and her production company created a hostile work environment. A civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court claims Lizzo pressured the dancers and shamed one of them for her weight gain before firing her.

Lizzo, who routinely champions body positivity, was also accused of calling out one of her dancers, Arianna Davis, for her weight gain after accusing the dancer of not being committed to her role. Davis was fired in May for recording a meeting during which Lizzo had given out notes to dancers about their performances, according to a complaint. Earlier this year, Lizzo won the Grammy for record of the year for her hit 'About Damn Time'.

Lizzo broke her silence on the issue soon. On August 4, she said she’s “not the villain” after three of her former backup dancers accused her of being in a sexual harassment lawsuit. She also termed the allegations "false". “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,” Lizzo said in a statement posted on social media. “I am very open ... [about] expressing myself but I cannot accept or allow people to use that openness to make me out to be something I am not.” She said the “sensationalized stories” were coming from former employees “who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional,” Lizzo said.

“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,” Lizzo said in the statement. “I’m hurt but I will not let the good work I’ve done in the world be overshadowed by this.”

Lizzo’s former dancers, Noelle Rodriguez and Crystal Williams, said in an interview to the Associated Press that they feel there’s nothing the Grammy winner can do to remedy the claims against her. Rodriguez and Williams and Arianna Davis filed a civil lawsuit making numerous allegations including sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment.

The allegations started taking a toll on Lizzo's social media presence. The singer official Instagram account has lost nearly 220,000 followers since the three former backup dancers sued her over alleged sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. According to statistics site Social Blade, Lizzo has lost 219,570 Instagram followers since the suit was filed on August 1. Lizzo, whose legal name is Melissa Jefferson, still boasts 13.3 million followers on her official account @lizzobeeating.

There were wider repercussions as well. Rapper Jay-Z's ‘Made In America’ festival, which Lizzo was set to headline, was cancelled due to “severe” circumstances, amid the lawsuit. The organisers of the festival, which was set to take place in Philadelphia on September 2 and 3, made the announcement on their Instagram account. Those who already had tickets for the event will be refunded, the organisers said.

The Lizzo controversy, however, shows no signs of slowing down. The 'Big Grrrl' singer was accused of sexual harassment by six more of her former co-workers. According to Billboard, in statement given by attorney Ron Zambrano who is representing the dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez said: "We have received at least six inquiries from other people with similar stories since we filed the complaint."

Lizzo released her fourth album last year. One of her singles, 'Pink', appears in the recent blockbuster 'Barbie', which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The single is on the movie's soundtrack as well.