Lizzo's backup dancers stand with her as she tearfully accepts humanitarian award amid harassment controversy

Amid ongoing controversy surrounding former backup dancers who accused Lizzo of fostering a hostile work environment among other allegations in a bombshell lawsuit, the Grammy-winning pop star tearfully accepted a humanitarian award from the Black Music Action Coalition Thursday night — all while her current dance troupe stood behind her in solidarity.

The 35-year-old "About Damn Time" performer took the stage at Live Nation's BMAC Gala in Beverly Hills to receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award, which — as can be seen in the video above — was presented to her by a group of her Big Grrrls and Big Boiiis dancers.

"Black Music Action Coalition, y'all really are about that action. Thank you so much for this, because I needed this right now. God's timing is on time," Lizzo said through tears. "I want to thank you for this award. I've been blessed to receive a lot of incredible awards, but this one truly hits different because humanitarianism in its nature is thankless, it's selfless, and to be kind to someone isn't a talent, you know, everyone can do it. It's a gift, and in all my years of activism and outreach, I have witnessed at the core of every organization, every movement, every march, is people helping people, and they do it every damn day."

Lizzo continued, stressing that she's dedicated her life to advancing important causes for the Black and queer communities, including self-reportedly donating $250,000 to groups like the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and Black Girls Smile, among others.

"I've decided to share my platform to shine a light on those people because I so badly want to live in a world where we award goodness with our attention," she said.

Lizzo closed her speech without referencing the controversy surrounding her, but expressed how much it meant to her that her dancers stood with her on stage.

"It's easy to do the right thing when everybody's watching you and it's what you do in those moments where nobody's watching that defines who you are, and I'm going to continue to be who I am, no matter who's watching," she said. "I'm going to continue to shine a light on the people who are helping people because they deserve it. I'm going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it, and I'm going to continue to put on and represent and create safe spaces for Black, fat women, because that's what the f--- I do. It is my purpose and it is an honor."

In August, Lizzo and her dance team captain, Shirlene Quigley were sued by three former backup dancers over an allegedly toxic workplace, including claims of sexual and religious harassment, as well as body shaming.

Lizzo responded to what she labeled "false allegations" by saying they are "as unbelievable as they sound" and "too outrageous to not be addressed."

"These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional," she wrote on Instagram.

On Thursday, Billboard reported that Lizzo was hit with a new lawsuit filed by clothing designer Asha Daniels, who alleged harassment and discrimination from various members of the Special tour team.

"The timing of this award's announcement stinks of an architected PR stunt by Lizzo's team aimed at trying to repair the damage done to her brand. It won't work," said Daniels' attorney, Ron Zambrano, in a statement on Lizzo's BMAC award. "Lizzo is the boss so the buck stops with her. She has created a sexualized and racially charged environment on her tours that her management staff sees as condoning such behavior, and so it continues unchecked."

A representative for Lizzo sent EW the following statement: "As Lizzo receives a Humanitarian Award from the Black Music Action Coalition for the incredible charitable work she has done to lift up all people, an ambulance-chasing lawyer tries to sully this honor by recruiting someone to file a bogus, absurd publicity-stunt lawsuit who, wait for it, never actually met or even spoke with Lizzo. We will pay this as much attention as it deserves. None."

Other honorees at the BMAC Gala included Keke Palmer, Jermaine Dupri, Sylvia Rhone, Jesse Collins, Dr. Menna Demessie, Jason Flom, Trae Tha Truth, Tariq Cherif, and Matt Zingler.

Watch Lizzo's BMAC Gala acceptance speech above.

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