“RuPaul’s Drag Race” fan favorite Darius Jeremy “DJ” Pierce, better known as Shangela to the viewers, has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit.
The plaintiff, Daniel McGarrigle, 39, alleges that Pierce raped him during filming the first season of hit HBO show “We’re Here” in 2020 in a Monroe, Louisiana, hotel room after an after-work party in February 2020.
Pierce bought McGarrigle five shots of alcohol and two mixed drinks at the party. He then asked McGarrigle to come back to Pierce’s hotel to help him pack for an early flight the next day.
At the hotel room, McGarrigle began to vomit. Pierce allegedly advised him to stay the night, saying, “If you want to lay down in my bed until you feel better, you can do that.” McGarrigle agreed. But he says after falling asleep, he woke up with his pants pulled down and poppers being poured on the side of his face. McGarrigle said he “felt Pierce on the lower half of his body, rubbing his penis against his buttocks, attempting to insert himself into his anus,” McGarrigle claims he screamed “No!” but was too weak. McGarrigle was then allegedly told, “I know you want it, and you’re going to take it.”
He did not report the rape right away because he feared losing his job. He eventually resigned. He is seeking unspecified damages.
