Crystal Williams is a dancer, choreographer, and pageant winner who rose to fame as one of Lizzo’s backup dancers. She appeared on the Emmy-winning TV series Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls and toured with the pop star across the world.
However, Crystal Williams recently made headlines for filing a lawsuit against Lizzo, alleging sexual harassment, weight-shaming, and creating a hostile work environment. Here is everything you need to know about Crystal Williams, her life, career, and controversy.
Early Life and Education
Crystal Williams was born on January 12, 1997, in Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of Ralph Johnson and Helen Shanklin and has three siblings. She grew up in a religious household and attended church regularly. She developed a passion for dancing at an early age and joined her church’s praise team, which incorporated stomp elements. She also participated in her school’s drill teams and enrolled in dance studios.
Crystal Williams attended Cypress Creek High School and Klein Forest High School, where she excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. She graduated in 2015 and received a scholarship to attend Sam Houston State University. She majored in mass communication and minored in dance. She also joined the university’s dance company and performed in various shows and events.
While at college, Crystal won Ms. Black and Gold Pageant hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. She also competed in the Miss Sam Houston Pageant in her junior year but did not win. Crystal said that she wanted to challenge the stereotypes and norms of beauty and inspire other women of color, especially plus-size women of color, to pursue their dreams.
Career as a Dancer
Crystal Williams graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2019 and decided to pursue a career as a professional dancer. She auditioned for several gigs and projects but faced rejection and discrimination because of her size and appearance. She said that she was often told that she was not fit enough or skinny enough to be a dancer.
However, her luck changed when she saw a casting call posted by Lizzo on her social media. Lizzo was looking for plus-size dancers to join her team for a new TV show called Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. Crystal submitted a demo reel and impressed Lizzo with her skills and personality. She was cast in the show without having to go through the reality show process.
Crystal Williams became one of Lizzo’s backup dancers, along with Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez. They performed with Lizzo on various platforms, such as the Grammy Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards. They also toured with Lizzo across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Crystal Williams said that she enjoyed working with Lizzo and felt empowered by her message of body positivity and self-love. She also gained a large fan following on social media, where she shared her dance videos, selfies, and pictures with Lizzo. She has over 24 thousand followers on Instagram under the handle @cryssiedenise.
Controversy and Lawsuit
On August 1, 2023, Crystal Williams, along with Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez, filed a lawsuit against Lizzo, her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., and her dance captain Shirlene Quigley. The lawsuit alleged that Lizzo sexually harassed them, weight-shamed them, created a hostile work environment, falsely imprisoned them, assaulted them, discriminated against them based on their race and religion, and interfered with their economic opportunities.
The lawsuit detailed several incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2023 that violated their rights and dignity as workers and human beings. Some of these incidents include:
- Lizzo allegedly pressured Davis to touch a nude performer’s breasts at a strip club in Amsterdam while chanting her name.
- Lizzo allegedly implied that Davis had gained weight and asked her to disclose intimate personal details about her life to keep her job.
- Lizzo allegedly fired Davis after she recorded a meeting where Lizzo berated her for drinking on the job.
- Lizzo allegedly subjected Williams and Rodriguez to an excruciating 12-hour audition after accusing them of drinking on the job.
- Lizzo allegedly locked Williams and Rodriguez in a hotel room for hours without food or water after they failed to perform to her standards.
- Quigley allegedly pushed her Christian beliefs on the dancers and denigrated those who had premarital sex.
- Quigley allegedly simulated oral sex on stage with Lizzo while wearing a cross necklace.
- Quigley allegedly shared lewd sexual fantasies about Lizzo with the dancers.
- Quigley allegedly discussed Rodriguez’s virginity with other dancers without her consent.
The lawsuit claimed that Lizzo created a culture of fear and intimidation among her dancers and that she was aware of Quigley’s behavior but did nothing to stop it. The lawsuit also claimed that Lizzo’s public persona of being a body-positive and inclusive artist was a facade and that she was the complete opposite of what she stood for.
The lawsuit sought unspecified damages for the emotional, physical, and financial harm caused by Lizzo and her team. The lawsuit also aimed to expose the truth behind Lizzo’s image and to prevent other dancers from suffering the same abuse.
Lizzo has not responded publicly to the lawsuit yet, and her representatives have not commented on the matter. The case is pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Boyfriend & Relationship
Crystal Williams is currently single and focused on her career. She has not revealed any information about her past or present relationships. She is close to her family and friends and often posts pictures with them on her social media.
Crystal Williams is a talented and ambitious dancer who has overcome many challenges and obstacles in her life. She has achieved success and recognition as one of Lizzo’s backup dancers, but she has also faced controversy and legal issues for suing the pop star. She is a strong and confident woman who stands up for herself and her rights.
Parents & Siblings
Crystal Williams was born on January 12, 1997, in Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of Ralph Johnson and Helen Shanklin, and has three siblings. She graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2019 with a degree in mass communication and a minor in dance.
Crystal Williams auditioned for Lizzo’s TV show Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls and became one of her dancers, along with Arianna Davis and Noelle Rodriguez. They performed with Lizzo on various platforms, such as the Grammy Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards. They also toured with Lizzo across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Crystal Williams WIKI/BIO
| Real Name | Crystal Williams |
| Profession | Dancer |
| Known For | Lizzo’s Former Dancer |
| Age | 26 years old |
| Birth Date | January 12, 1997 |
| Birth Place | Houston, Texas |
| Gender | Female |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth sign | Capricorn |
| Parents | Father: Ralph Johnson Mother: Helen Shanklin |
| Siblings | Three |
| cryssiedenise | |
| Boyfriend | Not Known |
| Height | In feet: 5’ 7″ IIn centimeters: 170 cm In meters: 1.7 m |
| Weight | Kg: 92 Pounds: 202 lbs |
| Eyes | Brown |
| Hair | Dark Brown |
| School | Cypress Creek High School Klein Forest High School |
| Alumni | Sam Houston State University |
| Net Worth | USD 280 K (approx.) |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Facts About Crystal Williams
- Crystal started dancing when she was in the fifth grade.
- Williams won Ms. Black and Gold Pageant in college.
- She auditioned for Lizzo’s TV show by sending a demo reel.
- Crystal performed with Lizzo at the Grammy Awards in 2022.
- She has over 24 thousand followers on Instagram.
- Crystal Williams is suing Lizzo for sexual harassment and weight-shaming.
- Williams was fired by Lizzo after recording a meeting.
- Crystal was locked in a hotel room by Lizzo without food or water.
- Williams was harassed by Lizzo’s dance captain Shirlene Quigley.
- Crystal is single and focused on her career.
- Crystal is a Capricorn and celebrates her birthday on January 12.
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