Sophia Michaels
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Shangela has been accused of raping a former HBO production assistant, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. Daniel McGarrigle, 39, alleges that the drag queen, whose real name is Darius Jeremy Pierce, raped him in a Louisiana hotel room after a drunken crew party in February 2020.
McGarrigle claims that Pierce made him drink five shots and two mixed drinks at the crew party, before inviting him over to a hotel to help him pack his bags for a flight the next day. He alleges that he “immediately threw up in the toilet” after Pierce allegedly suggested he stayed over.
The alleged attack took place after McGarrigle fell asleep fully clothed in Pierce’s hotel room. He claims that he screamed “no” and tried to struggle during the alleged attack, but “felt extremely weak,” according to the suit. McGarrigle claims that he began to feel disoriented and overcome by fear during the alleged attack, alleging that Pierce told him, “I know you want it, and you’re going to take it.”
McGarrigle “did not immediately report the sexual assault to the authorities or to Buckingham TV” because he was “fearful of losing his job,” he claims. He “tried to maintain a cordial relationship with Pierce” before resigning from his role in 2021, he adds.
Shangela has denied the allegations, calling them “totally untrue.” She said in a statement to Deadline: “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.”
McGarrigle is seeking unspecified damages for sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender violence, false imprisonment, and negligence from the drag race star, as well as the show’s production company, Buckingham Television. A rep for HBO’s We’re Here said in a statement shared with Deadline: “Buckingham and HBO take the safety and well-being of personnel on our shows very seriously
