Yesterday rapper and singer Lizzo accused a bodyguard at Summerfest of being racist on Twitter because he attacked her hair stylist, Shelby Swain, and her stylist, Marko Monroe. She tweeted: “Did anybody get footage of the security guard that tackled and attacked my team @summerfest? They slapped and manhandled my hair stylist and stylist and I’m out for blood.”
Monroe took to his Instagram story to explain everything that went down. While filming a video in front of the stage, a security guard went up to him and told him that he should not be there, even though Monroe had the proper credentials. The stylist claimed that he was manhandled and then brought to a jail cell where he contacted Lizzo’s stage manager in order to be released.
He claimed that the security guard demanded that he apologize before being released, which Monroe cited as an instance of homophobia. Her hairstylist also spoke on Instagram and said “We all know I work for Lizzo. We all know this. Ok, I have an all-access pass the whole [team does].”
Lizzo filmed the security guard to identify him, but the video has since then been removed. She explained on Twitter that she filed a complaint with Summerfest and the Milwaukee based festival has expressed that they have taken action.
UPDATE: @Summerfest responded and will be investigating the guards who attacked my team! Thanks for the support and please send any footage you might have it all helps! https://t.co/ROx1sfybeb
— |L I Z Z O| (@lizzo) June 28, 2019
Summerfest tweeted that they do not tolerate any kind of racism and will conduct a thorough investigation which appeared to please the rapper, but it lead her to speak more on modern day racism. She explained in a series of tweets that racism is not just refraining from saying racial slurs, it’s manifested through actions.
1/2 Lizzo gave an incredible performance which she now feels is tarnished by events which occurred during the performance. We do not tolerate racism in any form. We will conduct a thorough investigation.
— Summerfest (@Summerfest) June 28, 2019
This year has been groundbreaking for Lizzo as she has released “Tempo,” which features her idol, Missy Elliot, along with her album Cause I Love You. The rapper is currently on her Cause I Love You Tour which will end in the fall in San Francisco.