Latest news with #Poff
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two Rock Falls residents charged in Lee County with burglary, drug offenses
Mar. 20—DIXON — Two Rock Falls residents have been charged in connection with a burglary in rural Dixon. The Lee County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a burglary in progress Saturday, March 15, in the area of U.S. 30 and Walton Road in rural Dixon. There were two individuals seen on the property going in and out of a garage, according to a news release. Lee County deputies arrived on scene and arrested Thomas E. Ulve, 46, and Mariann C. Poff, 30. Ulve is charged with felony burglary, possession of burglary tools and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, according to court documents. Ulve was also held in custody for an arrest warrant in DeKalb County for retail theft and for a contempt of court warrant out of Lee County, according to the release. According to the release, Ulve is out of custody on pending matters that include a theft case in Winnebago County. Poff also was charged with felony burglary, possession of burglary tools, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, according to court documents. Poff was held in custody for an arrest warrant in DuPage County for failing to appear for retail theft and for retail theft in DeKalb County. In accordance with provisions of the Illinois SAFE-T Act, Ulve and Poff were given a court date and released from custody, according to the release. Ulve's next court appearance is a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. April 2 in Lee County Circuit Court. He also will appear at that time in a separate case filed March 17 that accuses him of attempting to elude officers on March 7 and for a third case, filed March 14, that accuses him of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia on Feb. 27. Poff's preliminary hearing also is set for 8:30 a.m. April 2 in Lee County Circuit Court. Both Ulve and Poff are represented by the Lee County Public Defender's Office. Both are demanding a speedy trial.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shangela accuser Eric Poff shares why it took nearly 8 years to come forward
Eric Poff, the accuser behind the latest sexual assault lawsuit filed against celebrity drag entertainer Shangela, is ready to share his side of the story. "This whole experience feels like I won a lottery that I didn't want to sign up for," Poff tells Out, "that I never asked to join." On Monday, Poff filed a complaint against Shangela — whose real name is Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, informally known as DJ — in the state of New York with detailed allegations of sexual assault and rape. Twenty-four hours later, Poff, who is also known by his adult film star name Dakota Payne, shared his story exclusively with Out. Poff and Pierce met in 2017 while filming Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate. Poff was working as a production assistant, and Pierce starred in the movie as an actor. "In working on the set, I got to know the cast and crew," Poff recalls. "A select number of the crew and cast had gone out a handful of times out in Hell's Kitchen to little gay bars, post-shooting hangouts. It wasn't until production had wrapped and I'd gone out to hang out with DJ one-on-one that this night happened." Leading up to that night out, Poff describes having a "friendly co-worker" relationship with Pierce. "I'm a fan of Drag Race [and] I was a fan of DJ's, so I felt comfortable. I thought I felt safe, hanging out with someone who I thought that I knew based on limited experience working with them and having seen them on TV." As detailed in Monday's complaint, Poff had "one or two drinks" before reportedly losing consciousness. Poff's next memory, as he recalls, took place inside a hotel room while he was anally penetrated by a man he did not know. Pierce, according to Poff, watched it unfold from the corner of the room. The complaint goes on to allege that "Pierce then anally penetrated Plaintiff without his consent." "I don't think I was meant to gain any kind of consciousness," Poff says. "I don't think that I was meant to see anything or have any memory of experience. I think I was meant to have gone out, wake up, and be like, 'Oh, you were crazy, hahaha, that happened. Goodbye,' like he's done with so many other fans." Pierce's defense, Poff says, alleges that the two "went out that night, met up with someone, had a threesome, and joked about it the next morning, and then Dakota suddenly just asked me for payment." That isn't Poff's recollection of the events. "I don't have any contact in my phone where it's like, 'Oh, remember that time we had a threesome with DJ.' There is no person in my life. I have no recollection. We did not meet up with anyone that night. That didn't happen. This John Doe person, I just have a recollection of what he looked like and what was being done when I did come to. He was not there in the morning when we allegedly woke up and joked around about it. There was no third person, there was no talks of, 'Oh, wasn't that crazy?' None of that." Following the alleged assault, Poff recalled the experience with mutual friends in an attempt "to let people know what happened." However, Poff believes that things kept being swept under the rug. He often heard advice like,"You just need to hold your head up high and be ready to work in environments with people like that." After years of silence and ruminating on the experience, running into Pierce at a bar in West Hollywood in 2024 was a turning point for Poff. "I was just festering and frustrated and felt powerless," Poff says. "I just happened to see him, and as calmly and as collected as I could, I went and I let him know how I felt." Pierce's reaction pushed Poff to share his story. "It was the dismissal. It was the change of look in his eyes when he looked up from his table, surely thinking this was going to be another fan encounter, someone singing his praise. He recognized me and the shift in his face ... and then how easily it was for him to just say, 'I'm sorry you feel that way.' And the people at his table wouldn't even look up. They wouldn't look at me. Eyes down the whole time. The whole thing felt so awful. I just felt compelled to make a video because that's the only thing that was in my control." Pierce first rose to fame in 2010 as Shangela on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, quickly becoming an iconic figure on the reality competition show. In the years since, Shangela has appeared on Dancing With the Stars, A Star Is Born, Hurricane Bianca, We're Here, and many more television shows. Poff's lawyer, James A. Vagnini, says it's time for Pierce to take accountability. "I think it's very telling that [Pierce's] response has been to go on attack. It's very rare that I've had a case where it's just been one survivor that's come forward and nobody else has ever said, 'Me too.' [That is] the whole basis of the Me Too movement. It's just a way to shield and put more fear into people into not coming forward and in this situation." Vagnini also claims that "DJ and his legal team are using politics and the community as a weapon back. 'This is damaging to the community...' Well, what's damaging to the community is the fact that there's a predator running around drugging people. There's a pattern of it that now dates back to 2014 from the people we've spoken to." This is why, he says, big defense lawyers are brought in — "because they've got to limit the amount of exposure that their client has and keep as many people from coming forward. Taking accountability, which is the right thing to do, is really never an option, no matter the amount of evidence I've got, no matter going all the way in a legal claim. It is the fear of the floodgates opening that forces them into this position because otherwise there could be a conversation out here. There could have been a conversation had in L.A. when Eric ran into him and opened the door." At the end of the day, Pierce is "the only one who knows what he's done already," says Vagnini. "But there's a lot of other people out there, and there will be more to come, as you see in the next steps." Vagnini claims that he's made contact with other survivors in other cities who have shared similar stories, "including a John Doe being in the room when they wake up. I just really want to address that, as a member of the community, they're doing a bigger disservice to the community by not taking some level of accountability and ownership in this. This isn't a drag issue. This is a human issue. Men, women every day go through experiences like this, unfortunately. To mask it in sort of what we're doing to the community and drag in particular is really, really offensive." Pierce and his lawyer have not responded to Out's request for comment. Meanwhile, Poff remains steadfast. "I understand how it upsets people. And trust me, I did not want to do this. As someone who also does drag, as someone who has performed in adult entertainment, I don't want to have to be this person to call him out, but it seems like I'm the only one that can." "We have to hold our own accountable," Poff says. Minutes before this Out interview with Eric Poff was published, Shangela shared a new statement on Instagram claiming to be "falsely accused in the most heinous ways." The drag star added: "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."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Drag Race' Star Shangela Responds to Sexual Assault Lawsuit
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. More from Rolling Stone Judge Signals Jay-Z's Defamation Claim Against Tony Buzbee Will Proceed to Trial Michael Crichton's Estate Can Move Ahead with Lawsuit over 'The Pitt,' Judge Rules Cardi B Scores $1.2 Million Repayment Plan From Gossip Blogger Tasha K 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.' Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
USA Today
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Shangela accused of drugging, raping man in 2017
'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 (4673) and and en Español (This story was updated to add new information.) Contributing: Edward Segarra and Will Carless, USA TODAY
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Drag Race' alum Shangela accused of 2017 sexual assault in new lawsuit
Darius Jeremy 'DJ' Pierce, known by his drag persona Shangela, has been accused of sexually assaulting a crew member of a movie he was filming in 2017, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in a New York court. The complaint naming Pierce is the latest accusation against the popular 'RuPaul's Drag Race' alum, who has denied other allegations of sexual assault, including one filed in 2023 that was settled last year. The new suit claims Pierce, 43, and an unidentified John Doe broke New York City's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which gives survivors of alleged gender-motivated violence, including sexual abuse, nine years from the date of the incident to file civil claims. Andrew Brettler, a lawyer for Pierce, did not respond to a request for comment. Pierce could not be reached for comment. Plaintiff Eric Poff was an art assistant for the 2018 film 'Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate,' while it filmed in New York City in the fall of 2017. Pierce was among the actors in the movie, which starred fellow 'Drag Race' alum Bianca Del Rio. During a night out, Poff, then 28, went to a Manhattan bar with Pierce and consumed one or two drinks, according to his complaint filed with New York County Supreme Court. Poff alleges in his suit that his drink was ''spiked with a drug' because he had 'no memory of events between consuming the drink and becoming semi-conscious in a hotel room.' Another man was in the hotel room, along with Poff and Pierce, according to the suit. While in the room, Poff 'started to fade into consciousness' and 'was bent over a bed being anally penetrated without consent by John Doe with Pierce watching from the corner of the room,' the complaint says. Pierce also anally penetrated Poff 'without his consent,' and then later sent Poff money via PayPal, according to the suit. Poff was unavailable for a phone interview Monday, but he said in a statement to NBC News that he came forward because sexual assault remains a 'particularly taboo subject' in the LGBTQ community. He added that anti-sexual violence laws that allow people to pursue litigation against their accused years later are important, and New York's law gave him time to process what he says happened. 'I am coming forward because I have the ability and resources to do so, knowing many other victims cannot,' Poff said, adding, 'I will not be deterred by the Defendant's popularity or potential backlash.' New York City's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law typically gives alleged victims nine years to file a claim, but in December 2022, a temporary window was open permitting claims stemming from older allegations; that window is set to close at the end of this month. The decades-old law has been cited as the basis for recent complaints filed against other high-profile defendants, including music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs and luxury real estate brothers Oren and Tal Alexander. Poff's lawyer, James Vagnini, said Pierce is seeking a jury trial and damages to be determined at that time. Vagnini added that Poff's memories were 'foggy' since he was not fully conscious, but similar claims against Pierce that have become public in recent years compelled him to come forward. Poff continues to work in the entertainment industry, Vagnini added, and said that speaking up against a major drag performer such as Pierce, who was on multiple seasons of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' became the first drag artist on ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' and has been in movies such as 2018's 'A Star Is Born,' was fraught with risk to his own career. 'We shouldn't let anyone off the hook because of who they are,' Vagnini said. 'There are people coming forward, and it shows that you can be raped no matter what your gender may be.' In 2023, a former production assistant on the hit HBO show 'We're Here,' which features drag queens in real-life situations, filed a lawsuit accusing then-series star Pierce of raping him in a hotel room following an after-work party three years earlier. Pierce said in a statement at the time that the allegations were 'entirely meritless,' and 'perpetuate damaging stereotypes that are harmful not only to me but also to my entire community.' That suit, filed by Daniel McGarrigle, was dismissed last year after a settlement was reached, Rolling Stone and others reported. The terms were undisclosed, and Pierce at the time did not respond to requests for comment. Last March, Rolling Stone interviewed and reported on multiple people accusing Pierce of either sexually assaulting them or attempting to have sex with them when they were too inebriated to consent. In a response to Rolling Stone, Brettler, the lawyer for Pierce, called the allegations 'false and unsupported by any evidence or reliable witness testimony,' and said there were 'significant problems with purported accusers' accounts.' He added that Pierce also 'adamantly denies ever engaging in nonconsensual sex.' Pierce, who has 1.4 million followers on Instagram, is set to appear in the forthcoming film 'Magic Hour,' directed and starring Katie Aselton, according to the movie's IMDB credits. This article was originally published on
