Shangela, the drag alter ego of Chantaize Daris Jeremy Pierce, or “D.J.” Pierce, has been accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit. Per Rolling Stone, which obtained court documents from the suit, Eric Poff, who performs under the adult film moniker Dakota Payne, has filed a civil suit in the New York Supreme Court against Pierce over an alleged 2017 assault. Poff claims that while working as a production assistant on the comedy Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate, he went to drinks with Pierce, who starred in the film. Poff recalls blacking out after a few drinks he believes were “spiked” and waking up in a hotel room in a “semi-conscious state” as he was “being anally penetrated” by an unknown man.
“After [Poff] started to fade into consciousness, he was bent over a bed being anally penetrated without consent by John Doe with Pierce watching from the corner of the room,” the suit states. “Pierce then anally penetrated [Poff] without his consent.” Poff claims he does not know the identity of John Doe, but after the assault, “Pierce sent Plaintiff money via PayPal.”
Shangela is one of the most recognizable stars on the drag circuit. He appeared on multiple seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race and We’re Here. He also competed in Dancing With The Stars and made several appearances on screen in A Star Is Born and on television in Broad City and Station 19. He is also known for being an outspoken advocate in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Sexual assault is a particularly taboo subject in the LGBTQ community and protecting celebrities who are accused is far too common, but we cannot ignore the experiences of survivors or allow violence to continue unanswered,” Poff said in a written statement published by Out. “I join with other survivors in coming forward and telling my story. My hope is to hold accountable DJ Pierce/Shangela, shed light on the impact of sexual assault on those who experience it and shift attitudes in what can be a toxic culture of victim blaming and shaming. Sexual assault is assault, no matter the sexual orientation of those involved, and survivors in the LGBTQ community deserve the equal justice as much as anyone who is subject to this kind of violence.”
Poff’s accusation marks the seventh such allegation against Pierce. In May 2023, a production assistant on We’re Here, a drag documentary series starring Pierce, filed a now-settled civil suit against the performer, claiming that Pierce had raped him at an after-party. Last year, Rolling Stone reported five more allegations against Pierce, all following a similar pattern of aspiring gay performers accusing Pierce of assault after joining him for drinks. Pierce’s lawyer did not immediately respond to The A.V. Club’s request for comment. Previously, Pierce, through his lawyers, told Rolling Stone he “adamantly denies ever engaging in nonconsensual sex,” with his attorney calling the allegations “false and unsupported by any evidence or reliable witness testimony.”
