A new civil lawsuit has been filed against celebrity drag performer Shangela, accusing the entertainer of sexual assault.
The complaint, filed Monday in the New York Supreme Court, was obtained by Out. The lawsuit, brought by Eric Poff, alleges that the incident occurred in October 2017 after Poff, then a production assistant on Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, met Shangela—whose legal name is Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce—on set in New York City.
According to the complaint, Poff and Pierce went to a Manhattan bar where Poff claims to have consumed one or two drinks. He alleges his drink was “spiked” with a drug, leaving him with no memory of events between consuming the drink and later regaining partial consciousness in a hotel room. The complaint further states that Poff was “semi-conscious” when he was sexually assaulted by a man referred to as John Doe, with Pierce allegedly watching from the corner of the room. The lawsuit also accuses Pierce of sexually assaulting Poff.
Poff’s attorney, James A. Vagnini, said that Poff does not know the identity of the John Doe defendant.
The complaint goes on to argue that Poff could not consent to any sexual activity due to his impaired state, and it claims Pierce subsequently sent money to Poff via PayPal. Poff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with pre- and post-judgment interest and legal fees.
In a statement, Poff said, “Sexual assault is a particularly taboo subject in the LGBTQ community… My hope is to hold accountable DJ Piece/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.”
This new lawsuit adds to a growing list of accusations against Pierce. At least five other individuals have publicly accused him of similar misconduct, according to a Rolling Stone report published in 2024. Poff’s allegations closely mirror those of other alleged victims. Vagnini also revealed to Out that he has been in contact with another individual from Texas who claims to have an “almost strikingly identical” experience.
The lawsuit alleges that these earlier cases encouraged Poff to come forward with his own story.
“I am coming forward because I have the ability and resources to do so, knowing many other victims cannot,” Poff said. “I refuse to let stereotypes be used as an excuse for predatory behavior.”
Poff also highlighted his support for legal protections such as the New York City Gender Motivated Violence Law, which he says enabled him to file the lawsuit when he was strong enough to do so. He added, “I will not be deterred by the Defendant’s popularity or potential backlash.”
Poff, whose adult film stage name is Dakota Payne, is originally from Waxahachie, Texas. He had previously spoken out about his experience via an Instagram post in September 2024. In the post, he recalled confronting Pierce at a West Hollywood bar, where Pierce allegedly responded, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” In a follow-up video, Poff addressed Pierce directly, criticizing the drag entertainer for allegedly jeopardizing the safety of spaces they shared.
Pierce, through his lawyer, has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. His attorney, Andrew Brettler, previously stated that the allegations are “false and unsupported by any evidence of reliable witness testimony.” Four prior cases against Pierce have been settled, and one lawsuit was dismissed.
In December 2024, Pierce attended Out’s annual Out100 event as the guest of another invitee, where he was photographed alongside honorees Cynthia Erivo and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
