Latest news with #MommieQueerest
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peaches Christ says she's been 'retraumatized' by police investigating drag icon Heklina's death
Almost two years to the day after legendary drag queen Heklina was found dead, her close friend and fellow queen Peaches Christ still feels traumatized by her death and the lack of answers provided by the London Metropolitan Police Department, who she has accused of 'homophobic bias.' Peaches Christ, also known as Joshua Grannell, was the one who found Heklina's body in a flat the two were sharing together as they prepared for a two-week run of the musical parody 'Mommie Queerest' at the Soho Theatre. While finding her friend dead has left Peaches with emotional scars — for which she is still in therapy working to heal — it's the lack of real answers that continues to haunt her, Peaches Christ tells PRIDE. 'There's the trauma of finding her, which was — it was like a horror movie and I'll spare you specific details, but it was horrific,' she says. 'It was bad and then not to be listened to or to be communicated with by the people who are supposed to be giving you answers, who assured you that they would keep you in the loop and communicate with you. It just felt so retraumatizing and created a whole other layer of nightmare to the situation.' Heklina, born Stefan Grygelko, was a beloved drag star in San Francisco whose punk aesthetic influenced a generation of drag queens. She was also the co-founder of the 'Trannyshack' drag night at the iconic Stud bar in 1996 and helped transform Oasis into a drag and cabaret club. After years of working to keep Heklina's name in the headlines in the hopes of pressuring the police into action, investigators have finally released new information in the case, but Peaches Christ says she still doesn't have an official cause of death. She was beginning to lose hope that there would ever be progress made in the case — it took the police 21 months to release CCTV footage of three unnamed men leaving Heklina's apartment building on the night of her death — until a new team of five investigators traveled from London to San Francisco to get more statements. On March 17, London authorities visited Peaches Christ and dropped a bombshell about her friend's death. She was told that Heklina had a 'lethal combination of drugs in her system' when she died, but the police still refused to confirm her cause of death. The authorities reinterviewed Peaches Christ and asked for her cooperation in locating people Heklina had slept with and done drugs with who might have information that could help in their investigation. They also traveled to visit Heklina's next of kin and executor of her estate, Nancy French, to speak with her and retrieve Heklina's iPhone, which Peaches Christ alleges the police had in their possession two years ago, but never unlocked despite being told that Heklina had been setting up dates Grindr shortly before her death. 'Heklina had no shame about her casual sex life, it's something she talked about on stage,' she says. "I knew what was going on, it's why I went and stayed at a hotel [on the day of her death]. I didn't want to be there while my friend was hooking up.' Just a few days after the London police came to California, Peaches Christ, still determined to get more answers, was in London leading a protest against the police's alleged 'homophobic bias' in Heklina's case. 'The idea of the protest was to call attention to the case of Heklina, but just as important was to create change, institutional change, so that this sort of homophobic bias wasn't brought to other cases in the future,' she says. Peaches Christ has been told that drugs were found in Heklina's system and that there was 'no foul play,' but the fact that investigators have picked up the case again and feel strongly enough about it to fly to the U.S. leads her to believe there is more to the story. 'If she had a lethal combination of drugs in her system like they say she did,' she wonders aloud, 'then why not just wrap it up? Like why didn't we wrap it up immediately? You would have known that before you cremated her in 2023. So why, if that's how she died? What's going on? Why is there no death certificate?' Peaches Christ felt from the very beginning that Heklina being part of the LGBTQ+ community and a drag queen meant that her case was never taken seriously. It took '10 months of unanswered emails and phones calls' before an anonymous source from inside the Westminster morgue told her that there 'was a coverup taking place' and that there was still disagreement over Heklina's cause of death. Stranger still, Peaches Christ alleges that in a Zoom meeting, investigators told her and French that the police officer first assigned to the case had a 'conscious or unconscious negative bias.' 'So that was the point where I was like, 'Oh wow, they're saying it's homophobia,'' she says. While in London for the protest to demand more action in Heklina's case, where fellow drag queens and activists marched holding signs reading, 'We Deserve Justice, Not Discrimination,' 'Queer Safety Over Police Power,' and 'End Met Police Homophobia Now,' the police asked Peaches Christ to provide a new DNA sample (she previously provided one to rule her out of samples they collected from the scene) because the old one had 'expired.' Combine that with the fact that the CCTV footage was only released after the press contacted them, and she says it started to look like negligence on the part of the Metropolitan Police. 'So all of this stuff is just really angering me because it does feel intentional. It's either extremely sloppy or just truly intentional negligence,' Peaches Christ says, explaining that she thinks the police only started to act once they found out she is well known in the drag world. 'I think before they just thought I was just some trashy drag queen, who just should go away and leave them alone. And it probably was a mixture of homophobia and probably the fact that we're not there, we don't live there, we're all the way in California,' she says. Two years ago Peaches Christ would have settled for just being provided with a cause of death, but now she wants The Met to be overhauled and homophobic bias to be weeded out so that no other loved ones have to go through what she has. She explained that in her experience, being LGBTQ+, using drugs, and having casual sex means that the cops will treat your case like it doesn't matter. 'My hope is that maybe we can move the dial and change their viewpoint on us institutionally so that they see us as human beings and treat us like people in the future,' Peaches Christ says. 'My really big hope is that the terrible, terrible service that Heklina has received from these folks— by us blowing it up and getting angry — maybe it'll change the next time they get a case like this.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peaches Christ to lead ‘Justice for Heklina' march in London
(KRON) — Two years after the San Francisco drag performer Heklina was found dead in a London flat, her friend Peaches Christ has announced plans for a rally to demand justice for her death, which remains unsolved. The rally will take place on March 31 at 10 a.m. in London, the city where Heklina died. At the time of her death, Heklina was in the British capitol co-starring with Peaches Christ in 'Mommie Queerest,' a drag parody of the film 'Mommy Dearest.' She was found dead in the flat the two were renting on April 3, 2023. San Francisco bathhouse accused of 'transphobic' policies No cause of death has ever been issued for her death. Peaches Christ maintains that Heklina's death is being treated unfairly due by 'London's Metropolitan Police as a result of that force's homophobia.' The rally will begin at Big Ben and march along the Embankment to the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. Speakers will include Peaches Christ, Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic, and London drag performers Cheddar Gorgeous and Crystal. 'We demand justice for Heklina and every Person treated unfairly by London's Metropolitan Police as a result of that force's homophobia,' said Peaches Christ in a social media post. Heklina, whose legal name was Stefan Grygelko, was a mainstay of the San Francisco drag community and a co-founder of the long-running Trannyshack club night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Questions remain almost 2 years after popular San Francisco drag queen Heklina's death
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — It's been nearly two years since San Francisco drag queen Heklina was found dead in a London apartment. Police said there was no foul play, but her friends are now speaking out about their frustrations with a lack of answers. DUI DJ was going 90mph on Highway 101: SF DA When KRON4 News first spoke to Joshua Grannell in May of 2023, he was planning a giant celebration of life for his friend Heklina. Grannell, whose stage name is Peaches Christ, was in London with Heklina getting ready to premiere their show 'Mommie Queerest' at the Soho Theatre when he discovered his friend and co-star dead in their London apartment. It's been nearly two years and Grannell said the lack of transparency from police has reached its breaking point. 'Landed back in San Francisco and would reach out to them for updates,' said Grannell. 'We would be ignored quite frankly. The emails would just go unanswered and if we did get a response, it would be just almost nothing.' Weeks after the death, Grannell said he was told by the Metropolitan Police in London that there was no foul play suspected but has yet to receive an official cause of death. He said it wasn't until an investigative reporter from The Guardian reached out to police that video evidence was released of three men leaving Heklina's apartment April 3, 2023. 'For us to receive news almost two years later that they've known that three men were in that apartment hours before I found her dead is chilling and terrifying and beyond upsetting,' said Grannell. Grannell believes homophobia is the likely reason why Scotland Yard hasn't taken Heklina's case seriously and said he has heard of similar experiences from LGBTQ+ friends in the U.K. He said answers only seem to come from police when they learn about the fan following of Heklina and Peaches. 'I did not know that there was this rich horrible history of institutional homophobia within this police force,' said Grannell. He said he's spent two years in the dark and just wants answers and transparency from police because that's what Heklina's family, friends and fans have been waiting for. 'When people continuously come to me and say, 'just tell me how did she really die?' and I say, 'I don't know,' they don't believe me, and it's been awful,' said Grannell. Grannell is hoping that local and state politicians will put pressure on the U.S. Embassy in London to ask for answers from police about what happened to Heklina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Met apology for friend who found drag artist dead
The Metropolitan Police force has apologised over its investigation into the death of an American drag artist in April 2023. Steven Grygelko, who performed under the name Heklina, was found dead at a flat in Soho, central London by his friend Joshua Grannell. Mr Grannell said he was "furious" it had taken almost two years for police to make a public appeal to find three men, who detectives say were at the flat hours before Mr Grygelko was discovered. In March 2023, a review by Baroness Casey into the force found institutional homophobia, racism and misogyny. Mr Grygelko, 55, and Mr Grannell had been staying in London preparing to put on a performance of their drag parody show Mommie Queerest at Soho Theatre. Detectives released CCTV footage last month of three men who may have "vital information" about what happened. Mr Grannell criticised the police for failing to keep him and Mr Grygelko's next of kin informed over the investigation. "When I left London they had assigned me with a family liaison officer. "They convinced me that we would be updated weekly, that we would be included in the process, that we would be informed of anything. "I got on that plane, and every email went unanswered for months and months. "They just completely ignored us." Mr Grannell said they had still had not been officially told the cause of Mr Grygelko's death, which is being treated as unexpected, and accused the Met of dismissing him and his friend as "trash". "I hate being the person who incorrectly would cry homophobia, if it's not homophobia. But they have left me no choice." Mr Grannell found his friend's body when he returned to their flat one morning and told officers he was "certain" that someone else had been there before he arrived. "The door was not only not locked, but it wasn't shut all the way. "I went to put my key in, and the door just opened." A Met spokesperson said "a number of enquiries" had been pursued before issuing the CCTV appeal. Det Ch Supt Christina Jessah said the force appreciated Mr Grygelko's next of kin "had been frustrated by the pace of the investigation" and lack of updates. She added: "We apologise and will be taking steps to correct this." She said officers were also continuing to speak to London's LGBT+ community to address wider safety concerns. The Met has been trying to improve confidence in policing following a number of scandals, including failures in the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port. A number of reforms have since been made, including introducing new community liaison officers, but according to research published by the mayor's office for policing and crime, only 55% of LGBT+ respondents said that they trusted the Met, compared to 73% of those who did not identify as LGBT+. Mr Grannell, who performs as Peaches Christ, described his friend as a "trailblazer" who had opened the doors for many other drag artists. "Heklina was maybe one of the funniest people I've ever met. She was dark and hilarious and what she didn't want the world to know was that she was secretly kind. "Quietly behind the scenes, she was constantly helping people out. But the deal was you couldn't tell people." He said he had been constantly questioning what had happened to his friend. "The most nightmarish life-changing experience of my life has only been made infinitely worse by the Met Police." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to The uneasy relationship between the police and Pride
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Friend who found drag artist dead gets apology from Met Police
The Metropolitan Police force has apologised over its investigation into the death of an American drag artist in April Grygelko, who performed under the name Heklina, was found dead at a flat in Soho, central London by his friend Joshua Grannell said he was "furious" it had taken almost two years for police to make a public appeal to find three men, who detectives say were at the flat hours before Mr Grygelko was March 2023, a review by Baroness Casey into the force found institutional homophobia, racism and misogyny. Mr Grygelko, 55, and Mr Grannell had been staying in London preparing to put on a performance of their drag parody show Mommie Queerest at Soho released CCTV footage last month of three men who may have "vital information" about what Grannell criticised the police for failing to keep him and Mr Grygelko's next of kin informed over the investigation."When I left London they had assigned me with a family liaison officer."They convinced me that we would be updated weekly, that we would be included in the process, that we would be informed of anything."I got on that plane, and every email went unanswered for months and months. "They just completely ignored us."Mr Grannell said they had still had not been officially told the cause of Mr Grygelko's death, which is being treated as unexpected, and accused the Met of dismissing him and his friend as "trash"."I hate being the person who incorrectly would cry homophobia, if it's not homophobia. But they have left me no choice." Mr Grannell found his friend's body when he returned to their flat one morning and told officers he was "certain" that someone else had been there before he arrived."The door was not only not locked, but it wasn't shut all the way. "I went to put my key in, and the door just opened."A Met spokesperson said "a number of enquiries" had been pursued before issuing the CCTV Ch Supt Christina Jessah said the force appreciated Mr Grygelko's next of kin "had been frustrated by the pace of the investigation" and lack of added: "We apologise and will be taking steps to correct this."She said officers were also continuing to speak to London's LGBT+ community to address wider safety concerns. The Met has been trying to improve confidence in policing following a number of scandals, including failures in the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port.A number of reforms have since been made, including introducing new community liaison officers, but according to research published by the mayor's office for policing and crime, only 55% of LGBT+ respondents said that they trusted the Met, compared to 73% of those who did not identify as LGBT+.Mr Grannell, who performs as Peaches Christ, described his friend as a "trailblazer" who had opened the doors for many other drag artists."Heklina was maybe one of the funniest people I've ever met. She was dark and hilarious and what she didn't want the world to know was that she was secretly kind. "Quietly behind the scenes, she was constantly helping people out. But the deal was you couldn't tell people."He said he had been constantly questioning what had happened to his friend."The most nightmarish life-changing experience of my life has only been made infinitely worse by the Met Police."
