HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Avril Lavigne is facing some heat after an email was leaked to the press revealing that her back-up dancers feel they are being paid less than the industry standard.
The exchange prompted a war of words between Lavigne's side and the Dancers' Alliance group, which urged people to boycott today's auditions in Los Angeles for the "Girlfriend" singer's upcoming tour.
The Dancers' Alliance group claims that Lavigne's management has "offered no additional per diem (daily rates of pay) and no plus agency fee, which is standard in our industry. We have expressed our concerns to Avril's management, but they have decided to move forward regardless."
Lavigne's publicist responded to the allegations by saying the 23-year-old singer "prides herself in treating everyone on the tour with the utmost respect and consideration and pays them well within the industry standard."
However, late last night Dancers' Alliance revealed on their MySpace page that "Avril's management has canceled the audition [today] and has opened up a new conversation with the agencies."
Lavigne has promised that her "Best Damn Tour," which kicks off in March in her hometown Canada, will be a "great experience" for fans.
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