'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Shangela accused of drugging, raping man in 2017
"RuPaul's Drag Race" star Shangela is facing fresh accusations of sexual assault.
The drag queen and actor, whose legal name is Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, was sued on Monday in New York County Supreme Court by adult film star Dakota Payne (under his legal name Eric Poff), according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Poff alleges Pierce, along with another unnamed male defendant, raped him in October 2017.
Attorneys for Poff claim he went to a bar with Pierce in Manhattan, where his drink was allegedly "spiked." Poff, who claims he later emerged "semi-conscious" in a hotel room, is accusing the two men of sexually assaulting him in his intoxicated state.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Poff and Pierce for comment.
Pierce was reportedly in the city for the production of "Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate," a 2018 comedy-drama also featuring Rachel Dratch and "Drag Race" alums Alyssa Edwards and Alaska, the lawsuit states.
Following their encounter at the bar, Poff allegedly lost consciousness before coming to in a hotel room, per the filing, where he found himself being anally penetrated without his consent by the John Doe while Shangela allegedly watched. Poff claims the reality-TV personality subsequently penetrated him anally as well.
Poff was then reportedly sent money by Pierce via PayPal after the alleged assault, according to Poff's complaint.
Poff is demanding a jury trial and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Shangela responds to Eric Poff lawsuit
Pierce addressed his latest legal battle in an Instagram post Tuesday, although the drag personality did not name Poff or respond to the specific allegations in his lawsuit.
"Being falsely accused in the most heinous ways is very difficult to endure," Pierce wrote. "I'm advised to stay silent, and I'm doing my best to continue on without engaging in a back and forth with dishonest people seeking money or a moment."
He concluded: "Even though none of these false claims have ever prevailed against me ... my career, my character and even my family have suffered. I appreciate all y'all who see through this type of mess, and have checked on me during dark times. Honestly, my heart thanks you."
Eric Poff credits previous Shangela accusers for new lawsuit
In May 2023, Pierce was sued for allegedly sexually harassing and raping Daniel McGarrigle, a production assistant on the HBO series "We're Here," according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. McGarrigle also named Buckingham Television, his employer, in the suit, who launched an investigation into the incident and concluded there was not sufficient evidence, an HBO rep previously told Rolling Stone.
Pierce vehemently denied the claims at the time, and the matter was reportedly settled outside of court, per Rolling Stone and People magazine.
In March 2024, Rolling Stone published an exposé on Pierce, in which five accusers — all but one who chose to remain unnamed — claimed Pierce had either sexually assaulted or harassed them. Four of the alleged incidents involved alcohol, and all the individuals claimed they were between 18 and 23 years old at the time, with Pierce nearly double their ages.
The outlet found that both McGarrigle and Helmer, an accuser from the 2024 investigation, had filed police reports on their alleged assaults.
The alleged victims told Rolling Stone that the choice to come forward was a difficult one, given negative attitudes against transgender Americans and drag performers. Drag shows have become a flashpoint in America's culture wars in recent years. Performances that allow children in the audience have come under fire from far-right extremists and lawmakers across the country, with over a dozen bills introduced across 8 states in 2023.
Drag Story Hour dazzles its audience: 'The love that's in the atmosphere is just palpable'
In his lawsuit, Poff cited both McGarrigle and the accusers featured in Rolling Stone as being integral to his decision to come forward.
"Due to these brave individuals coming forward with their allegations of sexual assault by Pierce, (Poff) gained the courage to come forward as well with this action," his lawyers wrote.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contributing: Edward Segarra and Will Carless, USA TODAY
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