‘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.
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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’s attorney, James Vagnini, 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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