'RuPaul’s Drag Race' accused of exploitation and ‘monopolization’ amidst assault lawsuit
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: There has been controversy around 'RuPaul’s Drag Race', with accusations that the reality show exploits queer performers and creates a monopoly. Critics argue that the show capitalizes on its contestants’s talent as well as their personal anecdotes without adequately compensating or supporting them. This has led to claims that it is a show where performing is more about entertaining others than about being rightly recognized or rewarded.
These criticisms are relevant in light of Shangela's situation because they expose a bigger problem within the drag community and entertainment industry. Daniel McGarrigle, a former production assistant at HBO, filed a lawsuit against Shangela, who is one of the most famous drag queens and an ex-contestant on the program, for sexual assault. However, Shangela has refuted these charges as entirely baseless. It portrays how drag performers have faced constant scrutiny in respect to individual personal allegations as well as industry-wide problems.
If anything, these critics point out that 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' could be an opportunity for exploitation of performers just so that it can excel; this links to the wider discussion about their treatment and representation. The discussion thus accounts for why the show is questioned and so are persons associated with it for instance Shangela as ethicality and influences of their presence in the media continue to be issues.
Five people accused Drag star Shangela of sexual assault
Between 2012 and 2018, five people have accused drag queen Shangela (Darius Jeremy "DJ" Pierce) of sexually assaulting them. These allegations took place in different locations like Louisiana, Texas, California and the UK. One of the helmer said he woke up naked at his house without memory of what transpired after drinking a cocktail which was ordered by Pierce from Los Angeles, according to People. Pierce is said to have confessed that they made love and there was another person present. Edward Ramirez also came out publicly stating that he had been sexually assaulted in a bathroom closet in Texas during 2018 but did not have faith in the law enforcement hence recorded it on social media instead of going to police.
Checri alleged that while he was very drunk, Pierce tried to insert himself into him, inside a hotel room located at London; this act wasn’t reported to police just as Ramirez’s case. Zachary claimed that Pierce tried to penetrate him while he was heavily intoxicated at a meet-and-greet event in New Orleans in 2015, but he did not file a police report. Finally, Soliz alleged that PJ performed oral sex on him when he was totally unable to resist because he was completely drunk at his apartment one night during college while they were living together somewhere in Texas around 2012.
Drag star Sherry Pie alleged of sexual misconduct
After multiple men alleged that she had sexually harassed them, Sherry Pie, a competitor in 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' was disqualified from the contest. Joey Gugliemelli is accused of using an alias known as Allison Mossey and pretending to be someone else so as to get men to send him videos that were sexual in nature. The men believed that they were going for auditions but instead, they were made into sending inappropriate content.
One of the accusers, Ben Shimkus suspected something fishy about “Allison Mossey;” this happened when he tried calling the theater where he thought she worked. Later on, Gugliemelli publicly apologized without revealing what he did exactly. Following the scandal, Sherry Pie has been disqualified from RuPaul’s Drag Race while her season will still air with her participation because those episodes have already been filmed before allegations came out.
