Rizzo, the popular American singer who was rocked by allegations of sexual harassment, was wearing a yukata with a glass of wine in one hand… “Japan outing” photos taken just before the scandal broke.

Around 9:00 p.m. in late July, an exceptionally large woman …… got off with her bodyguard from a pick-up truck parked at an intersection in Nishiazabu (Minato Ward, Tokyo). She is Rizzo, 35, a popular American singer. In fact, she was in Japan for the first time for the outdoor festival “Fuji Rock Festival ’23 (Fuji Rock)” held at the Naeba ski resort from July 28 to 30.

During her 10-year career as a solo hip-hop artist, her single “Boys” and album “Cuz I Love You” became international hits, and in ’19 she was named “Entertainer of the Year” by Time magazine. Her song “ About Damn Time” also won the “Best Record of the Year” award at the 65th Grammy Awards held this year. She is not only attracting worldwide attention as an artist.

She is a large woman at 178 cm and 140 kg, but she continues to send out messages to people who feel the same body complex and minorities, such as “love yourself no matter what your body type” and “don’t let bullies get you down,” and accepts people just the way they are. She has become an icon of the “body-positive movement,” receiving overwhelming support from women across the U.S.” (music magazine editor)

On the other hand, on August 1, she was accused of sexual harassment by three former dancers who used to be her staff. According to the complaint, when the three visited a club in Amsterdam, Rizzo forced a female dancer at the club to touch a dildo and banana that she was wearing between her legs, and also forced a bodyguard to bring her up on stage and whip her with his buttocks fully exposed.

Rizzo issued a statement on Twitter on August 3,

This incident is incredibly inexcusable and I don’t feel like talking about it. I have been open about my sexuality and have expressed myself openly, and I will not accept or allow you to use that openness to make me out to be some kind of hypocrite.

He outright denied it. However, on August 10, it was reported that the plaintiff’s lawyer clarified that “other dancers have confessed to similar damage. Incidentally, Rizzo has remained in hiding since issuing a statement in rebuttal; he was scheduled to headline the Made in America Festival scheduled for September 2 and 3, but the organizers have announced that the event has been canceled.

Just before this fiasco, the night this magazine saw him, he was on his way home from seeing the Sumida River fireworks display, and was dressed in a yukata when he got off the shuttle. Walking with a glass of white wine in his hand, he posed for fans who asked to take pictures with him, raising the glass as if he were Rui 53yo Yamada, the comedian “Baron Beard. Fans seemed to be delighted with his friendly personality. ……

We await further news, but it seems that the furor will not subside for some time to come.