‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star Shangela accused of sexually assaulting multiple people

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Shangela has been accused of sexually assaulting five people in a new exposé published by Rolling Stone Monday.

Five people in the queer community accused the famous drag queen — whose real name is Darius Jeremy Pierce — of either sexually assaulting them or trying to have sex with them after becoming too intoxicated to consent.

The publication recounted the story of a 27-year-old man named Helmer, who claimed he was 20 when he met Pierce while working at a bar in Los Angeles in 2017.

Five separate people have claimed Shangela — whose real name is Darius Jeremy Pierce — sexually assaulted them. itsshangela/Instagram The individuals made their accusations to Rolling Stone. itsshangela/Instagram

After talking on social media, the two allegedly decided to meet up for a “late dinner” where Pierce “bought a ‘Mojito'” for Helmer.

Per the outlet, Helmer told the Los Angeles Police Department in a 2023 complaint that he “does not have any recollection of the events that occurred after he drank the Mojito.”

However, he claimed that he remembered “waking up completely naked on a bed and believed to be at Pierce’s residence.”

One man named Helmer filed a police report about his experience with Pierce. via Getty Images Helmer alleged that Pierce told him, “We had sex, and there was another guy involved that you brought in.” Getty Images

“[Helmer] asked Pierce what happened last night and why he was naked,” the complaint, which was obtained by Rolling Stone, read. “Pierce responded with, ‘We had sex, and there was another guy involved that you brought in.’ [Helmer] asked who that other guy was, and Pierce stated he did not know, ‘but you were really into it.’” 

Helmer admitted that it “took him a few days to realize that he was sexually assaulted,” and he was initially worried that he “did not have enough evidence” to report it.

However, after speaking to both his roommate and his current boyfriend –– who both confirmed the account to Rolling Stone –– Helmer filed a police report in 2023.

Pierce’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, denied Helmer’s account. Getty Images for GLAAD Brettler further claimed that his client and Helmer had “consensual sex with a third man.” Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Pierce’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, called Helmer’s allegations “absurd” and claimed the two “went back to Mr. Pierce’s house where they engaged in consensual sex with a third man who they met at the bar.”

Brettler had no further comment when Page Six reached out.

A second survivor named Edward Ramirez accused Pierce of assaulting him after he “shoved me on the floor in a closet and tried to penetrate me” when he was 21 years old in 2018.

A second man named Edward Ramirez claimed Pierce “shoved me on the floor in a closet and tried to penetrate me” when he was 21 years old in 2018. Getty Images for VOX Media “I’m very confident I was clear with my ‘nos.’ I was declining advances,” Ramirez told Rolling Stone. Getty Images

“I’m very confident I was clear with my ‘nos.’ I was declining advances,” Ramirez told Rolling Stone. “He still kept trying anyway.”

Brettler denied the allegation and claimed three people could “attest that Mr. Pierce and Mr. Ramirez were never alone together” on the night in question.

“The apartment was small and we were all hanging together until we all left,” one witness claimed to the outlet. “[Shangela] is one of the kindest, most generous, and hardworking drag queens in the business. And it’s really disgusting to see how people are trying to attack her with these untrue stories.” 

Brettler once again denied the allegation and claimed that there were three other people who could “attest that Mr. Pierce and Mr. Ramirez were never alone together.” HBO One witness called the allegation “really disgusting.” Getty Images for GLAAD

However, Ramirez defended his allegation and claimed that the altercation happened in a closet while the other guests were leaving.

The third person, Checri, claimed that he was 18 when he met Pierce at an event in London in November 2017. He alleges that Pierce bought people drinks before the two of them headed to Pierce’s hotel room.

Checri recalled being intoxicated and unable to consent. However, he claimed he threw up in Pierce’s hotel bed and Pierce, now 42, allegedly attempted anal penetration.

A third man named Checri accused Pierce of attempting anal penetration after a night out. itsshangela/Instagram Checri claimed he remembered waking up to the assault after he threw up in the bed. Getty Images for GLAAD

“I just remember very clearly a sequence of events, which was me being on the bed,” Checri claimed to the outlet. “Then being sick on the bed, everywhere. [I remember] feeling it, and seeing it, and smelling it. I very viscerally remember that. And then, whilst that was happening, like, an attempt at penetration.”

Checri further alleged that he was not “in control of anything that was going on.”

“I felt so humiliated by the fact that I felt like an accessory that was available at a certain time,” he told the outlet.

Checri admitted to the outlet that he was “humiliated” afterward. Ben Trivett/Shutterstock “Pierce and Checri were not intimate, and did not have sex,” Brettler claimed to Rolling Stone. Getty Images

Speaking on behalf of his client, Brettler admitted that “alcohol was consumed” during that night, but “no one was visibly intoxicated, or impaired to the point that they could not make decisions for themselves.”

Pierce’s lawyer further claimed that the two “made out” but fell asleep “fully clothed” before Checri began “vomiting in the bed.”

“Mr. Pierce then encouraged Mr. Checri to go home. Embarrassed and apologetic, Mr. Checri gathered his belongings and left. Apart from cuddling in bed together before falling asleep, Messrs. Pierce and Checri were not intimate, and did not have sex,” Brettler alleged.

The fourth person to come forward, named Zachary, alleged that Pierce also tried to anally penetrate him after a night of drinking. Getty Images Zachary remembered saying “no” during the alleged altercation. Getty Images for GLAAD

The fourth person to come forward, named Zachary, alleged to the outlet that Pierce also tried to anally penetrate him after a night of drinking when he was 23 years old.

Zachary claimed that after meeting at a meet-and-greet in New Orleans in 2015, the two went out until he “blacked out” and woke up to Pierce and a third man.

“I heard Shangela say, ‘Stick it in him,’ and I quickly said ‘No,’” Zachary recalled to Rolling Stone. “I am pretty sure that [the third unidentified man] didn’t do anything, but I passed out again, so I am not positive.”

Zachary initially chalked it up to be a “celebrity encounter.” John Salangsang/Shutterstock for CDGA Brettler again denied any assault and claimed his client and Zachary “engaged in consensual sexual acts before falling asleep.” WireImage

Zachary admitted that he initially considered the ordeal a “celebrity encounter,” but later realized that what happened was “not great.”

Brettler claimed to the outlet that the two “engaged in consensual sexual acts before falling asleep.”

A fifth accuser, RoyLee Soliz, claimed that they also met Pierce at a meet-and-greet in Texas in 2012 when they were 20 years old.

A fifth accuser, RoyLee Soliz, claimed that they met Pierce at a meet-and-greet in Texas in 2012 before Pierce sexually assaulted them. GC Images “She had gotten me so drunk that I couldn’t say no, and I was in no way mentally OK enough to feel strong or demand her to stop what she was doing,” Soliz claimed. WireImage

Soliz recalled drinking with Pierce afterward and returning to his hotel room because they “looked up to” Pierce, but things took a turn after he fell asleep.

“I just remember trying to sleep and closing my mouth when she (Shangela) tried to put her penis in my mouth,” Soliz claimed. “I really didn’t have any strength to tell her to stop or that I didn’t want to have sex with her.… She had gotten me so drunk that I couldn’t say no, and I was in no way mentally OK enough to feel strong or demand her to stop what she was doing.

Brettler told the outlet that Pierce has “no recollection of meeting RoyLee Soliz,” and he denied that Pierce ever engaged in “nonconsensual sex of any kind with them, or anyone else.”

Brettler claimed that Pierce had “no recollection of meeting RoyLee Soliz.” via Getty Images “He adamantly denies ever engaging in nonconsensual sex of any kind with them, or anyone else,” Brettler told Rolling Stone. FilmMagic

All of the accusers pointed out to Rolling Stone that they were initially hesitant to come forward because of the anti-drag show movement in the country.

“[Pierce is] a huge spokesperson for a community in which they have hurt quite a few people. I would hope that people take this kind of thing seriously,” Checri said. “It is a big relief that, finally, this conversation is starting to happen.”

Several accusers also credited Daniel McGarrigle for their decision to speak out against Pierce.

Several accusers claimed they initially hesitated to speak out against Pierce because of the controversy surrounding drag shows. itsshangela/Instagram “It is a big relief that, finally, this conversation is starting to happen,” Checri said. itsshangela/Instagram

McGarrigle — who worked as an HBO production assistant at the time — claimed in a 2023 lawsuit that Pierce allegedly raped him in a hotel room after getting drunk at a crew party in 2020.

---

For more Page Six you love…

Listen to our weekly “We Hear” podcast Shop our exclusive merch

---

McGarrigle claimed that he fell asleep in Pierce’s hotel room after throwing up, but he allegedly woke up to Pierce attacking him.

“Pierce overpowered McGarrigle and was able to hold him down,” he wrote in the lawsuit.

The exposé comes nearly a year after Daniel McGarrigle accused Pierce of raping him. Getty Images for GLAAD Pierce became a fan favorite as Shangela after Season 2 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Getty Images

At the time, Pierce said he was “hurt and disgusted” by the “totally untrue allegations.”

Pierce and McGarrigle reached a settlement in February and the case was dismissed, per Rolling Stone.

Pierce rose to fame when he joined Season 2 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2010 before joining the “All Stars” season the following year.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.