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‘Drag Race' Star Shangela Responds to Sexual Assault Lawsuit

‘Drag Race' Star Shangela Responds to Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Yahoo26-02-2025

RuPaul's Drag Race star Shangela took to social media on Tuesday to respond to a new sexual assault lawsuit filed earlier this week.
On Monday, Eric Poff, who performed under adult film pseudonym Dakota Payne, filed a civil lawsuit against the performer, whose real name is Darius Jeremy ('DJ') Pierce, in New York's Supreme Court. Poff accused Pierce of sexually assaulting him in October 2017 while filming the film Hurricane Bianca 2. Poff, a production assistant, claimed he went drinking with Pierce, who starred in the film, during a night out in New York. Poff alleged his drink was spiked, although the complaint does not specify who he felt was responsible, and that he blacked out after. Per the filing, Poff claimed that when he regained consciousness, an unknown man and Pierce sexually assaulted him in Pierce's hotel room.
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The complaint followed Rolling Stone's investigation last year into sexual assault allegations from five accusers against Pierce along with a separate civil lawsuit settlement.
'I started off my week super grateful for life, texted with my mom, repacked my drag bag, and just been minding my own lil gay business,' the performer posted on Instagram Tuesday. 'Then here comes some BS.
'Being falsely accused in the most heinous ways is very difficult to endure. 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. 'It's not worth it,' I tell myself,' continued Pierce. 'Even though NONE of these false claims have ever prevailed against me… my career, my character and even my family have suffered.'
In another slide, Pierce wrote, 'Their goal is to characterize a successful Black, gay drag queen as a threat. But my goal is to never let evil win. I will continue to fight back with the truth, and with time, I know the truth will prevail.'
Pierce's attorney, Andrew Brettler, did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but Pierce has consistently denied any accusations of sexual misconduct.
Poff has publicly discussed his allegations in the past on social media. In March, he posted an Instagram story with a link to Rolling Stone's investigation, stating, 'Maybe I should share my story too…' He shared an Instagram video six months later, claiming he had run into Pierce at a restaurant in West Hollywood and confronted them about the allegations.
'If he's looking to blame someone, he should start by looking at his own behavior over the years,' Poff said in a statement following Pierce's post. 'It is his actions that have led him to this day. This is about one thing and one thing only: justice for survivors and shedding light on sexual violence in our community.'
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Noah Wyle: I play a doctor on 'The Pitt.' Real health care workers need our help.
Noah Wyle: I play a doctor on 'The Pitt.' Real health care workers need our help.

USA Today

time34 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Noah Wyle: I play a doctor on 'The Pitt.' Real health care workers need our help.

Noah Wyle: I play a doctor on 'The Pitt.' Real health care workers need our help. Since 'The Pitt' premiered, I've heard from health care workers who said they finally feel seen. Their stories echo the same themes: Exhaustion, compassion and a system that threatens their work. Show Caption Hide Caption Watch Noah Wyle in 'The Pitt': Doctor gives advice for dying patient In new TV series "The Pitt," Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) counsels the dying using words from a mentor. I've spent a lot of my life wearing scrubs, although I never passed Anatomy 101. On "The Pitt," I play an attending physician in a high-intensity emergency department. It's fiction, but it's grounded in real stories – shaped by medical advisers who've lived them and delivered with reverence for the professionals we're honored to represent. Still, it wasn't until my mother, a retired nurse, watched a scene where my character lists the names of patients he couldn't save that I truly grasped the emotional weight of this work, as she shared a flood of stories she's carried silently for decades. I've never seen her respond that way to something I've acted in. And she's not alone. Since the show premiered, I've heard from countless health care workers who've told me they finally feel seen. Their stories echo the same themes: exhaustion, compassion and a system that threatens to make their life's work unsustainable. Their stories have stayed with me. And that's why I jumped at the chance when I was approached by FIGS, a health care apparel company with a history of standing up for the health care workforce, to go to Capitol Hill with them this week. While on Capitol Hill, I will advocate alongside a group of FIGS ambassadors made up of 18 extraordinary nurses, doctors, students and other health care professionals. Health care workers need help from Congress As part of this grassroots effort, we're urging lawmakers to act on three urgent, bipartisan issues that are making health care workers' jobs, and their lives, harder than they need to be: lack of mental health support, crushing administrative burden and financial strain. Our message is simple: Without a supported, protected and fairly treated workforce, there is no patient care. Whatever other important issues are being debated, this has to be a priority. Health care workers are experiencing burnout at staggering levels. Half of physicians and nurses report being burned out, and health care workers face a 32% higher risk of suicide than the general population. Even when support exists, many fear that seeking help could jeopardize their license, career or reputation. Opinion: 'The Pitt' captures something real about doctors. Medicine can benefit from it. That issue has hit home for many of the health care professionals who will join me in Washington. One nurse said she struggled with depression and anxiety due to the conditions at work and came close to taking her own life. A doctor described dental students whose teeth were ground away by stress. And an oncology nurse shared the heartbreaking story of a young cancer patient who died because of the paperwork delays in getting him the lifesaving medication he needed. That's why one of our priorities is reauthorization and funding of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which includes federal mental health programs for health care workers as well as grants for peer support, training and institutional culture change, especially in rural and underserved areas. The law was enacted in 2022 on a nearly unanimous bipartisan basis. But unfortunately, it expired in 2024. It should now be reauthorized with just as much support as it received initially. Prior authorization threatens patients' health At the same time, administrative red tape is strangling the system. Physicians and their staff spend nearly two full business days each week dealing with prior authorization – essentially asking insurance companies for permission to treat their patients. One ambassador, a primary care provider, told us she spends nearly half her day fighting insurance denials and filling out duplicative forms – far more time than she spends with patients. Opinion: For patients and doctors, insurance prior authorization can be a dangerous game These delays don't just cause frustration: 1 in 4 physicians say prior authorization has led to serious patient harm. We're urging Congress to move forward with reforms that help put clinical judgment back where it belongs: in the hands of trained professionals. And then there's pay. Fewer than 6 in 10 health care workers feel fairly compensated, and only 38% see any link between their performance and their paycheck. That disconnect is pushing people out of the field and fueling dangerous shortages. Another ambassador, a resident physician, described working 80-hour weeks while struggling to afford groceries. Stories like hers are why FIGS is championing the Awesome Humans Act, a proposed federal tax credit to provide frontline health care workers with meaningful financial relief. These aren't partisan issues. They're practical ones. And they're urgent. Because when our health care professionals are burned out, buried in paperwork or forced to leave the field altogether, we all pay the price. I'm not a policymaker. I'm not a clinician. But I've spent my career listening to those who are, and I've seen the difference they make when it matters most: after a car accident, during cancer treatment, in delivery rooms and at the end of life. This week, I'll stand with them in the halls of Congress, and I'll be proud to do it with my mom and 18 other amazing health care workers. To anyone who's ever benefited from the knowledge, care and courage of a health care professional, now's the time to show up for them and take action. They've had our backs. It's time we have theirs. Noah Wyle is an actor, writer, producer and director who currently stars in 'The Pitt.'

'Ginny & Georgia' season 4: Everything we know so far
'Ginny & Georgia' season 4: Everything we know so far

Tom's Guide

timean hour ago

  • Tom's Guide

'Ginny & Georgia' season 4: Everything we know so far

Good news for fans of "Ginny & Georgia": We won't have to wait too long after that shocking season 3 finale to see how things shake out for Georgia (Brianne Howey), Ginny Miller (Antonia Gentry) and the rest of Wellsbury, MA, in season 4. Yes, more episodes of Netflix's popular mother-daughter dramedy are already in the works and, knowing this bunch, there will be plenty of twists and turns in our TV future — especially after the finale dropped some some life-changing (or life-starting) news for one half of the titular duo. In case you missed it, "Ginny & Georgia" debuted in February 2021 and quickly became one of the best Netflix shows, with a combined 967.2 million hours viewed between the first and second seasons. It charmed fans with its "Gilmore Girls"-esque central relationship between young single mom Georgia and teen daughter Ginny, as well as its small-town quaintness, all mixed with the pulpy thrillers of a good page-turning mystery. So, with things already in motion for a fourth chapter of the Millers' story, here's everything we know about "Ginny & Georgia" season 4. (Warning: Season 3 spoilers ahead!) Seeing as how the third season of "Ginny & Georgia" only just premiered on Netflix on Thursday, June 5, the streamer hasn't yet officially announced a release date for season 4. The writers' room for season 4 kicked off in February of this year, per an Instagram update. Going by previous seasons, which all had a near-two-year gap between them, we could expect the next installment of the Netflix series sometime in 2027. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. A post shared by 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲 & 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚 (@gngbts) A photo posted by on Back in May 2023, Netflix picked up "Ginny & Georgia" for a double renewal, guaranteeing not only a third season but also a fourth for the fan-favorite series. The series also welcomed a new showrunner, taking over from Debra J. Fisher: Sarah Glinski will lead the team for the fourth season, as she did for season 3. No official casting news has been released just yet regarding the "Ginny & Georgia" season 4 cast. However, you can't have "Ginny & Georgia" without the actresses playing them, so obviously Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentra will both be back for the show's fourth season. It's likely the two Miller actresses will be joined by other returning favorites including Diesel La Torraca (Austin), Felix Mallard (Marcus), Nathan Mitchell (Zion), Scott Porter (Mayor Paul Randolph), Jennifer Robertson (Ellen), Sara Waisglass (Max), Raymond Ablack (Joe), Katie Douglas (Abby), Chelsea Clark (Norah) and Katelyn Wells (Silver). And given that we saw that some of Georgia's family members resurface at the end of season 3, including her incarcerated father, there might be a few more familiar faces joining the drama next season. It looks like there are more Millers in our future. At the end of the season 3 finale, it was suggested that milk-craving Georgia is with child ... but whose? Is the father her ex-husband Mayor Paul (Scott Porter) or hunky cafe owner Raymond Ablack (Joe), with whom she shared a steamy moment a few episodes prior? We don't yet know the answer to that question — 'It's complicated," series star Brianne Howay told Tudum — but creator Sarah Lampert did confirm that the mother of two will officially become a mother of three in season 4. Fittingly, Lampert also revealed to Tudum that the official theme for "Ginny & Georgia" season 4 is 'Cycles and Origins.' As Georgia and the Millers contemplate their futures — literally, with a new life on the way — they will have to reckon with their family's past. 'Sarah has some incredible things planned, and I can't wait to see more about the circumstances that shaped Georgia,' Howey shared. "No one in the Miller family will be the same after this season," Glinski told Entertainment Weekly. "We talk about Georgia changing, but Ginny has changed, Austin has changed, and there's no going back." We saw examples of just how Ginny and Austin have changed in how they navigated their mother's murder trial in season 3, pulling their own behind-the-scenes schemes to ensure their mom's freedom. 'Once Georgia realizes how her kids manipulated this situation, it's quite sobering,' Howey shared with Tudum. 'It's also the final straw that leads Georgia to finally want to go to therapy, to finally break the cycle. She's now seeing in very real terms what her actions have done to her children, because now her children are re-creating her actions.' 'We thought the biggest consequences are how her children are changed through the process," Gilnski added. "The burden she leaves on Austin and Ginny at the end of Season 3 is what we'll have to deal with in Season 4.'

She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)
She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)

Maddie shared her dating ups and downs exclusively with her Instagram Close Friends, unknowingly chronicling a real-time love story A casual DM from a younger man named Mikey turned into something unexpected: respect, chemistry and a deep connection Just months later, Maddie's followers watched her go from 'I can't do this anymore' to 'I need him biblically' — and ultimately to saying yes to his proposalIn a now-viral Instagram video, Maddie scrolls through a year of Close Friends stories, narrating the real-time love story she didn't know she was capturing. 'You post your dating stories on Close Friends,' she says in the clip, 'and they watched you fall in love.' When she first invited a few followers into her inner circle, it was just to vent about the chaos of dating in her 30s. 'I posted on my story like, 'If you want to be on my Close Friends to hear more dating stuff, let me know,' and 300 girls said yes,' Maddie tells PEOPLE. The rest of the story unfolded in voice notes, videos, screenshots and tearful recaps shared only with those women. Her digital diary became a safe space not just for storytelling, but for solidarity. 'Honestly, last year was the worst dating experience I've ever had in my life,' she says. 'All 300 of those girls can attest to it.' By early 2024, she was cautiously stepping back into dating after a long break. Burnt out from bad dates and disillusioned with the process, she told herself she'd date just to have fun — no pressure, no expectations. 'I pretty much was like, I'm never gonna find love,' she says. 'But at least I can have fun… at least they're getting some entertainment out of it.' Then, one morning, she posted a quick video from the gym. A guy named Mikey, who followed her online, messaged her, casually noting they went to the same gym, though they'd never seen each other in person. 'I thought he was a trainer trying to sell me a package,' she laughs. 'Because also, I do not get hit on [through] Instagram.' But then came the message that made her pause. 'If it's not obvious, I think you're really pretty,' he wrote. A few days later, they went on their first date. 'I was literally in the car right before, almost in tears,' she remembers. 'I was just like, I cannot go on like these first dates anymore.' But that date turned out to be different. 'Even though my expectations were super low going in, when he walked in, I felt like my body took a screenshot,' Maddie laughs. While everything seemed to be going well, Maddie was hesitant because Mikey looked significantly younger than her. 'When I asked how old he was, he said 26,' she says. 'I was like, do you know how old I am? I'm 35.' Back in the Close Friends group, she debriefed immediately. She told them 26 might be too young, even if he was kind, smart and incredibly attractive. 'I was like, I don't know if I could do that,' she says. 'And they were just like, just give it a chance.' So she did. And with each date, her resistance softened. 'He's responsible, he doesn't go out, he honestly acts older than I do,' she says. 'We always joke that he's 41.' Soon after, Maddie posted the now-viral phrase that marked a turning point in her feelings. 'I need him biblically,' she wrote, adding, 'It's from a Britney Broski sound. It was more hedonistic, if anything, not like I needed to read the Bible with him.' Around that same time, Mikey introduced her to his parents, just two weeks in. 'That's crazy,' she says. 'But I was already like, this is it.' It wasn't just the relationship that felt serious, but how she was showing up in it. As a mom to her daughter Gabbie, dating meant navigating a whole different set of priorities. 'I used to be scared to bring up my daughter,' she says. 'But with this relationship, I was just like, you know what, Gabbie is a big part of my life.' She made it clear from the beginning that Gabbie wasn't going to be hidden or minimized. Mikey didn't flinch. 'When I told him I had a kid, I thought he was gonna be like, I'm not interested,' Maddie says. 'But it didn't faze him at all.' Before they even met, Mikey spoke about Gabbie with gentleness and respect. 'When they finally met, they got along really well, and he just played with her all day,' she says. It was that moment, seeing how he treated her daughter, that cemented everything. 'Gabby liking you is more important than my family liking you all combined,' she says. 'If Gabby doesn't like you, this is not gonna work.' And he did. From day one, he put his best foot forward. Meanwhile, Maddie's followers were catching feelings right along with her. 'Every time I would meet a man, the group chat would be like, 'That's your husband,' ' she says. This time, she asked them to hold off. 'We've said that a few times and we have been wrong every time,' she says. 'So from now on, don't call him my husband.' Mikey was the only man she didn't give a nickname to. 'I don't think he needs a nickname,' she says. 'He just went from the guy from Instagram to my boyfriend to my fiancé.' The proposal came quicker than expected. They had talked about a summer engagement, but Mikey couldn't wait. 'I think we went to Olive Garden and he was like, I can't wait until July,' Maddie says. 'If I have that ring, I'm going to have to propose to you immediately.' She knew the proposal was coming, but didn't want to be caught off guard. 'I told him I didn't want to be surprised with no nails done,' she laughs. So he planned everything. He made sure her nails were done, she received a massage, and even a special dress she had picked out months before. 'We were able to almost plan it together,' she says. 'He executed it, but I got to tell him everything I wanted.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Looking back now, Maddie feels grateful she documented it all — every high, every heartbreak, every glimmer of hope. 'I go back to my archives and see where I was a year ago today,' she says. 'Some of the videos, I'd be crying, like, this is the worst.' But she also sees growth and grace. 'You could see almost like the light returning to my eyes from when we met,' she says. Her journey through dating in 2024 was painful, but it shaped her vision for love. 'Had I not had that, I don't think I would have ever found Mikey,' Maddie says. 'Even if I did, I don't think I would have appreciated him.' She stopped dating for a husband and started dating for herself. 'I just wanted to meet people, go to my favorite restaurants, and be social,' she says. That freedom helped her figure out what she truly wanted, which was kindness, generosity, and softness. 'And not just with me, but with everyone,' she adds, saying she found all of that in Mikey. 'My expectations were so low,' she says. 'And now I genuinely can't imagine my life without him.' Read the original article on People

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