A civil lawsuit is accusing RuPaul’s Drag Race star Shangela of rape.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles, claims that Darius Jeremy “DJ” Pierce, who goes by the stage name Shangela, raped a former HBO production assistant while filming the hit show We’re Here.
Court documents state that 39-year-old Daniel McGarrigle was with Pierce at a hotel for an after-work Party in Louisiana in February 2020 when the rape took place.
Pierce, 42, has denied the allegations, stating that it is “entirely meritless.”
The plaintiff in the lawsuit is also suing the show’s production company, Buckingham Television for an unspecified amount.
The suit details what took place leading to the alleged rape. According to McGarrigle, Pierce bought the plaintiff five alcoholic shots and two mixed drinks, then asked him to accompany him to his hotel room so that he could begin packing for an early morning flight.
Upon arrival, McGarrigle “immediately threw up in the toilet,” then states that Pierce told him: “If you want to lay down in my bed until you feel better, you can do that.”
Court documents state McGarrigle agreed and fell asleep with his clothes on, but when he woke up, his pants were removed and “poppers” were found on his face.
The suit further states that McGarrigle “felt Pierce on the lower half of his body, rubbing his penis against his buttocks, attempting to insert himself into his anus.”
McGarrigle yelled “No!” and attempted to fight Pierce off, according to the lawsuit. After the alleged rape, McGarrigle was “fearful of losing his job” and “did not immediately report the sexual assault to the authorities or to Buckingham TV.”
He resigned from his role a year later.
In a statement, Pierce said the accusations “perpetuate damaging stereotypes that are harmful not only to me but also to my entire community. 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.”
This story is developing.
