Dancing with the Stars alum Shangela accused of rape in civil lawsuit
RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite and Dancing with the Stars contestant Shangela — legally Darius Jeremy “DJ” Pierce — has been named in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging sexual assault during production of the HBO series We’re Here.
The complaint, brought by former production assistant Daniel McGarrigle, 39, contends that an incident occurred in February 2020 while the crew was working in Monroe, Louisiana during filming of the show’s first season. The suit names Pierce, 42, and the program’s production company, Buckingham Television, and seeks unspecified damages related to the alleged assault.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged encounter followed an after-work gathering. The filing states that Pierce purchased alcohol for McGarrigle and later invited him to Pierce’s hotel room to help pack for an early departure the next morning. Once in the hotel room, McGarrigle reportedly became ill and “immediately threw up in the toilet.” The suit says Pierce then offered him the use of his bed to rest until he felt better.
McGarrigle alleges that he passed out fully clothed on Pierce’s bed and that at some point during the night he awakened to find his pants pulled down and Pierce attempting to have sex with him. The complaint describes McGarrigle’s reaction as striking out and shouting “No!” while feeling “extremely weak.” It further alleges that Pierce made statements suggesting the sexual encounter was desired by McGarrigle, including, “I know you want it, and you’re going to take it.”
McGarrigle claims he responded by screaming “No!”
The lawsuit states that, following the alleged assault, McGarrigle was fearful of jeopardizing his employment and did not immediately report the incident to law enforcement or to Buckingham Television. The complaint says he attempted to maintain a cordial working relationship with Pierce and ultimately resigned from his position in the summer of 2021.
McGarrigle’s attorney, Daniel Gilleon, has said his client has been in contact with the Ruston Police Department in northern Louisiana about the alleged incident since December. As of the filing of this civil complaint, no criminal charges have been filed.
“This newest filing is nothing but an attempt to shake down both me and a well-regarded television company”
Pierce issued a statement strongly denying the allegations, calling the lawsuit “entirely meritless” and asserting that it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about him and the communities he represents. Pierce described the filing as an attempt to “shake down” both himself and the production company and said the claims have “no basis in fact or in law.”
A representative for HBO and the show We’re Here confirmed that Buckingham Television and the network received a complaint from McGarrigle in July 2021 alleging an incident from early 2020. The network’s statement said Buckingham immediately launched an internal investigation and that the investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations.
The civil suit now brings the matter before the Los Angeles Superior Court, where McGarrigle is seeking civil remedies. Civil litigation and internal investigations are separate from any potential criminal proceedings, and the lawsuit itself does not determine criminal guilt or innocence. The complaint will proceed through the court system, where both sides will have the opportunity to present evidence and legal arguments.
Shangela, the stage name of Darius Jeremy “DJ” Pierce, first rose to prominence on RuPaul’s Drag Race, appearing across multiple seasons and later competing on the U.S. edition of Dancing with the Stars with professional partner Gleb Savchenko. He has also served as a prominent face on HBO’s We’re Here, a series that brings drag performers into small-town communities to collaborate with local residents.
The allegations and Pierce’s denial have drawn significant media attention, and the suit’s progress will likely be followed closely by fans of reality television and advocates concerned with workplace safety and accountability in entertainment production. For now, the complaint remains an allegation; the legal process will determine how the claims are resolved.