[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favourite Shangela has been accused of rape by a former HBO manufacturing assistant.
The allegation was made in a lawsuit filed by Daniel McGarrigle in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. According to court docket paperwork obtained by Deadline, the 39-year-old claimed the disturbing incident allegedly came about at a Louisiana resort room in February 2020 after manufacturing wrapped for season one among We’re Here. Daniel recalled within the swimsuit that the solid and crew celebrated the milestone with a celebration at a restaurant referred to as El Toro, throughout which Shangela – whose actual identify is Darius Jeremy Pierce – “was heavily flirtatious with McGarrigle and insisted on buying him drinks.”
He claimed the A Star Is Born actor made him drink 5 photographs and two blended drinks on the bash, regardless that Daniel instructed the star he “did not drink often.” At one level, Shangela had the manufacturing assistant come again to his resort room to assist him pack for a flight the following day. But when the pair arrived on the room, Daniel claimed he “immediately threw up in the toilet.” The 41-year-old drag queen then supplied for Daniel to remain over for the evening and lay down on his mattress till he felt higher. The swimsuit said:
“Sick and exhausted, McGarrigle agreed. He laid down in Pierce’s bed fully clothed, shoes and socks still on.”
Related: Cheer’s Monica Aldama Sued For Allegedly Covering Up Sexual Assault Among Cheerleaders
That’s when issues was a nightmare, Daniel claimed. During the evening, he allegedly “woke up to a cold liquid being poured down the side of his face,” which he later found was a sort of “poppers,” and shortly realized Shangela allegedly was sexually assaulting him. Daniel screamed “no” and tried to flee the alleged assault, however he “felt extremely weak.” The lawsuit mentioned:
“Plaintiff was disoriented from the high he was experiencing from the poppers and the fear that overcame him during the sexual assault. Pierce overpowered McGarrigle and was able to hold him down.”
Daniel mentioned he continued to really feel disoriented and afraid in the course of the assault, alleging that the previous Dancing With the Stars contestant instructed him:
“I know you want it, and you’re going to take it.”
This is so, so terrible. Following the assault, Daniel mentioned he “did not immediately report the sexual assault to the authorities or to Buckingham TV” as a result of he was “fearful of losing his job.” The assistant added that he “tried to maintain a cordial relationship with Pierce” afterward. However, he ended up resigning from his position in 2021.
We’re Here’s manufacturing firm Buckingham Television, which can also be named within the lawsuit, claimed a criticism was made in 2021 concerning the incident. However, a rep for the present instructed Page Six “insufficient evidence” was discovered to again these allegations:
“Buckingham and HBO take the security and well-being of personnel on our reveals very severely, and Buckingham instantly launched an investigation [when the incident was reported to them in July 2021. The investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support these allegations.”
Meanwhile, Shangela has denied the allegations made by the former HBO staff member. He called the accusations “entirely meritless” in a statement to Page Six, noting that they “perpetuate damaging stereotypes that are harmful not only to me but also to my entire community.” He continued:
“I can’t begin to explain how hurt and disgusted I am by these totally untrue allegations. This newest filing is nothing but an attempt to shake down both me and a well-regarded television company. No one should be fooled: it has no basis in fact or in law, and it will not succeed. As a hardworking and outspoken drag entertainer for more than a decade, I know that I am far from alone in battling ignorance, bigotry and prejudice, all of which played a role in the filing of this complaint. That is why I will fight this entirely meritless lawsuit and not allow it to destroy me and those I love, or harm the causes we all stand for.”
At this time, Daniel is seeking an unknown amount in damages for sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender violence, false imprisonment, and negligence from Shangela and Buckingham Television. Reactions? Let us know in the comments below.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
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