As Aunt May in Spider-Man puts it, “with great power must come great responsibility.” And, for some Hollywood stars, they don’t not know how to properly handle such power and responsibility and end up in legal trouble instead. In fact, over the years, countless stars have been sued by their staff, including former assistants, housekeepers and nannies.
Most recently, “About Damn Time” singer Lizzo was the latest to join the list. In August, the singer was sued by her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, per NBC News. Among the claims made by her former employees against Lizzo and her production company were of sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment and of creating a hostile work environment.
And although the lawsuit felt like a shock to Lizzo’s fans, it’s far from a surprise given how often powerful celebrities often deal with these scenarios. Take a look at some of the most shocking celebrity lawsuits from their employees below!
Lizzo
Earlier this year, “About Damn Time” singer Lizzo was sued by her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, per NBC News.
Among the accusations, the plaintiffs accuse the Grammy winner, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., and Shirlene Quigley, captain of the dance team, of sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment and of creating a hostile work environment.
In the documents obtained by the outlet, the plaintiffs even remembered one specific moment after performing a concert in Amsterdam. Per the documents, the crew then went to a sexually themed show where they were pressured into touching some of the nude dancers.
“Plaintiffs were aghast with how little regard Lizzo showed for the bodily autonomy of her employees and those around her, especially in the presence of many people whom she employed,” the lawsuit detailed.
Prior to this lawsuit, the Los Angeles Times reported that 14 of the singer’s former employees settled with her in court over being filmed without their consent in her documentary Love Lizzo.
Sharon Stone
In 2013, actress Sharon Stone was sued by a former housekeeper, named Angelica Castillo, who claimed she was unlawfully fired after being injured on the job. Per the documents obtained by ABC News, Castillo was under “extreme and severe physical pain” after loading groceries into Stone’s car. After seeing a doctor, Castillo was told to “limit lifting heavy objects.” Documents state, however, than Stone disregarded the doctor’s orders and proceeded to call her “crazy” and “stupid” as she did her work slower due to the pain.
A year before, Stone was sued by staffers once again when her nanny, named Erlinda Elemen, filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination alleging that Stone had an issue with her religious beliefs. Stone ended up counter-suing Elemen before they reached an agreement in court.
Lady Gaga
Back in 2011, Lady Gaga’s former personal assistant, Jennifer O’Neill, sued the “Born This Way” singer for cheating her out of overtime wages in the 13 months she worked for the singer/actress in 2009 and 2010, per Insider.
The case went to go to trial in 2013, but the two eventually settled a month before they were due in court.
Mariah Carey
In 2019, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer Mariah Carey was sued by her former nanny, Maria Burgues. Per the documents obtained by Variety, Burgues claimed she was fired after complaining about her pay and working conditions, was not given proper wage statements and seeked compensation for emotional distress.
In the year before, Carey’s former housekeeper, Maria Salazar, also filed a lawsuit claiming she was not adequately paid.
Brandy
Last year, singer Brandy was also sued by her former housekeeper, identified as Maria Elizabeth Castaneda. In the documents, obtained by People, Castaneda claims the “Come a Little Closer” singer violated California state labor laws, including failure to pay minimum wage, unpaid rest and meal periods, inaccurate wage statements, and more. In addition, Castaneda alleged she wasn’t paid for her last two days of work, and was seeking over $250,000 in damages.
Kim Kardashian
In 2021, Kim Kardashian was sued by seven of her home’s staff members for a series of complaints. “Plaintiffs never received any paystubs, were not paid on regular pay periods, were not given their required meal and rest breaks, were not provided a means to record all their hours, were not paid all their hours, were not reimbursed for employment expenses, were not paid all their overtime wages, and were not paid their wages upon termination of employment,” read the documents, obtained by NBC News.
Courtney Love
In 2012, Courtney Love also joined the list of celebrities who were sued by their staff when her former assistant, Jessica Labrie, sued her for breach of contract, unpaid wages, and wrongful termination. Per Los Angeles Times, Love even promised Labrie “a ‘full ride’ scholarship to Yale University,” a promise she did not keep.
Naomi Campbell
Over the years, Naomi Campbell has been sued by many employees in different occasions. In 2006, for example, the supermodel was sued by a former assistant, Amanda Brack, for assault, battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress, per Today. Earlier in that same year, Campbell was sued by a former housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, for throwing a cell phone at her over a missing pair of jeans.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown’s lawsuit story needs it’s fair share of trigger warnings. In 2020, the disgraced singer was sued by a former housekeeper who claimed that the singer’s dog, Hades, allegedly attacked her and left her bleeding and needing stitches, per Fox News. According to the plaintiff’s account, Brown then ethuanized his dog to “destroy evidence and flee the scene.”
Jennifer Lopez
Back in 2013, Jennifer Lopez settled in court over a breach of contract lawsuit from her onetime limo driver, Hakob Manoukian. After attempting to countersue and being dismissed by the judge, both parties decided to settle.
Britney Spears
In 2018, Britney Spears settled a two-year sexual harrassment lawsuit against her from her former bodyguard Fernando Flores. Per RadarOnline, documents stated that Spears flashed him, invited him into her bedroom when she was naked and claimed she used various drugs including methamphetamines.
Alanis Morisette
In 2013, singer Alanis Morisette was sued by her former “night nanny,” Bianca Cambeiro. In the documents, Cambeiro claims she was neither paid overtime nor given breaks during her employment, and was “prohibited from leaving the bedroom of the child she was supervising while the child was sleeping” unless a parent was in the room or until the other nanny arrived.
In addition, the former nanny also alleged she suffered from physical, mental and emotional injuries and distress, pain and suffering, in addition to lost wages and benefits and health care expenses.
Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis
In early 2023, not-so-friendly exes Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis were sued by their former nanny, Ericka Genaro. She alleged wrongful termination, claiming the actors fired her when she requested medical leave for mental health issues that she said developed while working for the couple.
In the complaint, obtained by People, Genaro alleged she experienced “unbearable” and “extreme” anxiety and stress while caring for the former couple’s two kids, Otis and Daisy, after they split in 2020. Genaro said she felt like she had to “pick sides” and that the pressure of being the primary caretaker while “filling in Wilde’s absence for the children” was “debilitating.”
Usher
Back in 2013, Usher’s former nanny, Cecilia Duncan, sued him for unpaid overtime, per Daily Mail. Per the documents, Duncan alleged she often worked more than a typical 40-hour work week and was not compensated. Duncan allegedly discussed the matter with the singer and said nothing was done to fix the problem. She was ultimately fired without being paid overtime and was therefore requesting six figures in the suit.
Bruce Willis & Demi Moore
Back in 1998, former couple Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were sued by their former nanny, Kim Tannahill, who claimed they verbally and physically abused her. “[Moore and Willis] shamelessly exploited and abused [her]…during [her] employment and thereafter,” the documents claimed. In the lawsuit, there were claims of fraud, assault, false imprisonment, stalking, invasion of privacy, and civil rights violations. In a second suit in a federal court, Tannahill claimed she was not paid overtime wages.
Eddie Cibrian & LeAnn Rimes
Lastly, in 2014, Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes went to court against their former housekeeper, Gloria Cevallos. In the suit, Cevallos said she faced ageism, racism and was subjected to discrimination and verbal abuse by the couple’s other employees and family members. The two parties settle the suit two years later in 2016.
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