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Update: Shangela has issued a statement.

Original Story: Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, better known as Shangela, is facing sexual assault allegations after a previous sexual assault lawsuit was dismissed.

Court documents were filed Monday (February 24) in New York by adult film actor Dakota Payne, under his real name Eric Poff, alleging that the 43-year-old RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and another unnamed male participated in a sexual assault in 2017 in New York City, via EW.

The complaint asks for a jury trial and compensatory damages.

Keep reading to find out more…

In the legal docs, Dakota alleges that the assault happened while Shangela was on a break from filming Bianca Del Rio‘s Hurricane Bianca movie in October 2017 in New York City.

While at a Manhattan bar, Dakota alleges he consumed “one or two drinks,” but that “upon information and belief,” now believes he “had his drink ‘spiked’ with a drug while at the bar.

Exclusive: Drag queen, comedian, actor and former RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio (aka Roy Haylock) has signed with CAA for representation.

Named on New York Magazine‘s list of “most powerful drag queens in America,” Del Rio is maybe best known as the winner of Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, when she was crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar.

As an actor, Del Rio starred in Matt Kugelman’s 2016 feature film Hurricane Bianca, and its sequel, 2018’s, Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate. That same year, she published her first book, Blame It On Bianca Del Rio: The Expert on Nothing With An Opinion on Everything.

In 2019, she made her West End debut in the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, where she played the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle.

Del Rio made history during her 2019 “It’s a Jester Joke” tour, becoming the first drag queen...

It’s coming up on a decade since “RuPaul’s Drag Race” crowned Bianca Del Rio the winner of Season 6, and next year, the Emmy-award-winning show will celebrate its Her-storic 200th episode.

“I can’t even imagine how many queens there have been,” Del Rio tells Variety. “But it is mind-boggling to think about, because for me, in many ways it feels like yesterday.”

Over the past year, Del Rio has been on tour and now has been confirmed as the host of “The Pit Stop,” where she and a guest will recap and review the most recent episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15. She’s also in an animated short special, “Bianca Saves Christmas.” Below, Variety caught up with Del Rio to tease her new recap show and animated short.

Let’s start with “The Pit Stop” and Season 15 of “Drag Race.” How did this opportunity come to be?

Can you believe it’s 15 seasons?...

Preparing for an upcoming flight isn’t just limited to packing your clothes and toiletries — have you thought about how you’re going to keep yourself entertained? The idealist in all of us might say we’re gonna read that book we’ve been putting off, but depending on the length of your flight, that may be easier said than done. If it’s on the longer side, it can be easy to get distracted and start to really feel the minutes crawling by.

The good news is that in recent years,...

Actor, filmmaker and Emmy-winning producer Ash Christian died on Thursday. He was 35.

No further details about his passing or cause of death have been released.

Christian was the founder of Cranium Entertainment, where he developed and produced a number of films, including “Burn,” Coyote Lake,” Hurricane Bianca,” “Social Animals” and “1985.” He was currently working on Mayim Bialik’s directorial debut “As Sick as They Made Us,” starring Candice Bergen and Dustin Hoffman. The film is slated for an October release.

“Ash was a great friend, colleague and partner in crime,” Anne Clements, Christian’s friend and producing partner said. “He was a champion of indie film and filmmakers and his love of the process of putting movies together was infectious. My heart goes out to his family, especially his mother. The world lost one of the good ones.”

Also Read: Linda Manz, Star of 'Days of Heaven,' Dies...

Ash Christian, an Emmy award-winning producer, actor, filmmaker and founder of Cranium Entertainment, died in his sleep on Thursday in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was 35.

Born on Jan. 16, 1985, in Paris, Tex., Christian began writing and directing short films at the age of 14, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams just two years later. He wrote, directed and starred in his first feature film, “Fat Girls,” in 2006 at just 19 years old. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won an award for outstanding emerging talent at L.A. Outfest.

In 2014, Christian won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding special-class short-format daytime program for “mI Promise.” He shared the award with his producing partner Anne Clements and executive producers Lauralee Bell and Scott Martin.

Christian went on to act in several television shows including “The Good Fight,” “The Good Wife” and “Law and Order,” but found his true calling with production.

Ash Christian, an Emmy Award-winning producer, actor and filmmaker, died in his sleep on Thursday, August 13 while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was 35 years old. Ash was a prolific filmmaker, with numerous projects in various stages of production, including many set to start filming this year. Under his own company, Cranium Entertainment, Christian developed and produced thought-provoking feature films for both specialized and mainstream audiences. He went on to produce dozens of award-winning films and productions, including Hurricane Bianca, 1985, Hello Again, Social Animals, and Coyote Lake. His current projects included As Sick As They Made Us, Mayim Bialik’s directorial debut starring Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen and Simon Helberg; Nightfall with Matt Bomer and Sam Worthington, directed by Addison McQuigg (Bloodline); and The Sixth Reel, directed by and starring Charles Busch and co-directed by Carl Andress; Chick Fight with Malin Akerman, Fortune Feimster, and Alec Baldwin; and Paper Spiders,...

Ash Christian, a producer, actor and director known for Social Animals and Coyote Lake, has died. He was 35.

Christian died in his sleep while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, according to his representatives. 

He ran his own production company based in New York, Cranium Entertainment, producing numerous films including the SXSW hit 1985, Hurricane Bianca, Little Sister and Coin Heist.

In 2006, Christian won outstanding emerging talent for his first feature film Fat Girls at Outfest. In 2014, Christian won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding special-class short-form daytime program for "mI Promise." He shared the win with producing partner ...

Ash Christian, a producer, actor and director known for Social Animals and Coyote Lake, has died. He was 35.

Christian died in his sleep while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, according to his representatives. 

He ran his own production company based in New York, Cranium Entertainment, producing numerous films including the SXSW hit 1985, Hurricane Bianca, Little Sister and Coin Heist.

In 2006, Christian won outstanding emerging talent for his first feature film Fat Girls at Outfest. In 2014, Christian won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding special-class short-form daytime program for "mI Promise." He shared the win with producing partner ...

Following on from a July where they added a large number of horror titles to their catalogue, Hulu have now made available even more great outings from the genre. As with all the major streaming players, keeping subscribers happy with new content during this Covid-19 year has been crucial, especially given the new competitors that have sprung up in recent months, further splintering film rights. Hulu are usually pretty reliable in terms of diversity, though, and have added some particularly strong horror titles for August.

Among the highlights for new movies is the original 1988 Child’s Play, which introduced the murderous Chucky to the world in a film that arguably remains the high-point of the franchise. A reasonably realistic setting, a convincing child performance and some excellent effects work make Child’s Play a classic of the period and more than worth a rewatch. And with the Chucky series on the way,...

Hulu is out with its list of everything new arriving in August and everything leaving at the end of the month.

Highlights include “Ordinary Love,” a 2019 movie about how a couple endures a breast cancer diagnosis, and “Peanut Butter Falcon,” Shia Labeouf’s 2019 movie about a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a nursing home to attend the wrestling school of his idol, the Salt Water Redneck.

Hulu Originals to look out for next month include Season 3 of “Find Me in Paris” and the Hulu Original premiere of “The Binge.”

Leaving at the end of the month are 2007’s “3:10 to Yuma,” 1973’s “Charlotte’s Web,” 1988’s “Rain Man,” and “The X-Files.”

Also Read: 'The Crown' Season 5 Won't Premiere Until 2022

Aug. 1

Monchhichi: Complete Season 1B (Cartoon Network)

The Pier (El Embarcadero): Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (BetaFilm)

UniKitty: Complete Season 2B (Cartoon Network)

71 (2015)

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A Good Woman...

We’re only just over halfway through July, but let’s hop ahead a couple of weeks into the future and take a look at what’s coming to Hulu in August. Next month will see the streaming service add an enormous list of movies and TV shows, with numerous classics amongst them, and everyone from horror to action to romance fans and even family audiences should be pleased with what’s coming.

The first day of the month, for example, brings the opening installments in two major horror franchises that kicked off in the late 80s – 1987’s Hellraiser and 1988’s Child’s Play. Sticking with the 80s, August 1st likewise sees 1986’s Top Gun added to the library, too. Not to mention 1981’s My Bloody Valentine.

For you romance lovers out there, meanwhile, Australia and Four Weddings and A Funeral drop the same day, and family audiences can enjoy Cats & Dogs,...

If you were concerned about there being a content drought in August due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down Hollywood, you were…absolutely right in those concerns.

For its new releases in August 2020, Hulu is following Apple, Disney, and even Peacock’s lead in taking things nice and slowly. The vast majority of the notable offerings here are of the library variety. Hulu adds classic movies like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Rain Man, and Top Gun on August 1. Those go along with the very much still-holds-up Casino Royale on August 31.

Hulu also has room for some interesting recent indie movies like Ordinary Love (Aug. 3) and Peanut Butter Falcon (Aug. 6). But when it comes to Hulu original content there’s not much going on. The unheralded Find Me in Paris debuts its third season on August 21. That is followed by original comedy The Binge on August 28. And that’s about it!

As we’re now at the halfway point of July, it’s time to begin looking ahead to what all the various streaming services will be bringing us in August. And while some of the big guns, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, have yet to announce their slate, Hulu has emerged first out of the gate today, dropping a massive line-up for next month.

Seen down below, there’s truly something for everyone here. As usual, the platform has every genre covered, pulling films and TV shows from all over to put together a meaty list of content for their subscribers to get stuck into next month. And you can see the entire line-up of what’s heading to Hulu down below.

Released August 1

Monchhichi: Complete Season 1B (Cartoon Network)

The Pier (El Embarcadero): Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (BetaFilm)

UniKitty: Complete Season 2B (Cartoon Network)

71 (2015)

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A Good Woman...

Adam Donaghey, a Texas-based producer and film festival co-founder, was arrested in Dallas recently on a charge of sexual assault of a child. He was released from custody on April 28 after posting $25,000 bond.

Publicly available court documents from his April 28 arraignment do not indicate when or where the alleged incident occurred, though the charge applies to an adult accused of assaulting a person 16 or younger. There is no statute of limitations for that charge.

Donaghey did not respond to requests for comment.

Donaghey and his accuser, now in her 20s, have worked together for over a decade, including on several independent films he produced. IndieWire is not naming her out of respect for her privacy.

Her most recent on-camera role was in the 2017 film “A Ghost Story,” on which Donaghey is credited as a producer. Director David Lowery offered support for the young woman in a statement.

“I’m devastated by this news.

Anna Camp, Emmy winner Wanda Sykes, and Jenna Dewan have joined Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams in Lakeshore Entertainment’s The Wedding Year. The ensemble cast also includes Keith David (Greenleaf), Patrick Warburton (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Tom Connolly (Lost), Grace Helbig (Trolls), and Fred Grandy.

Robert Luketic is directing the romantic comedy which is about an La photographer Mara Hickey (Hyland) is never getting married. So, when she and her new ready-to-settle-down boyfriend (Williams) are invited to fifteen weddings in the same year, the pressure is on Mara to make some big decisions.

Don Diego penned the screenplay. Filming continues in La with Lakeshore’s Gary Lucchesi, Marc Reid, and Mark Korshak producing. Hyland will also serve as executive producer.

Camp, known for her role in the Pitch Perfect franchise, was most recently seen in the Tribeca Film Festival title Egg.

It's our stoopid 'hang with celebrities' thought game courtesy of the joys of curating your own image on Instagram. This week's confessional poll.

Would you rather

...judge everyone with Anna Kendrick and her owl friend?

... take an empty subway car ride with Molly Pope?

...hang out at the piano with Liza Minnelli, no big deal?

...go see Isaac Mizrahi's cabaret show with Allysa Milano?

... freshen up your gloss with Gwynnie?

... snuggle with Jesse Bradford and a piglet?

... plan the Hurricane Bianca 2 sequel with Bianca del Rio & Rachel Dratch?

... harvesting the bounty with Oprah?

Pictures after the jump to help you decide.

Chicago – Reeling2016, Chicago’s Lgbtq+ International Film Festival, opened last week (Sep. 22nd) with a hurricane force, through Bianca Del Rio. The comic goddess premiered the film “Hurricane Bianca,” directed by Matt Kugelman. Del Rio, Kugelman and others walked the Red Carpet at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre.

Bianca Del Rio and Director Matt Kugelman on the Red Carpet at Reeling2016

Photo credit: Jon Espino for HollywoodChicago.com

Reeling2016, the Chicago Lgbtq+ International Film Festival is in its 34th year, and has an incredible line-up of films, events and parties from September 22nd-29th. Theater venues include the historic Music Box Theater, Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema and Chicago Filmmakers.

Bianca Del Rio for “Hurricane Bianca”

The outrageous and awesome Bianca Del Rio debuted her feature film at Opening Night Reeling2016, and also had another role as Roy Haylock. Roy performs comedy as his alter-ego Bianca in shows all over the country,...

Previous | Image 1 of 9 | NextOpening Night Marquee, Music Box Theatre Chicago.

Chicago – The historic Music Box Theatre was extra fabulous on September 22nd, as Reeling2016, Chicago Lgbtq+ International Film Festival, rolled out the Red Carpet on Opening Night for the the film “Hurricane Bianca,” featuring Bianca Del Rio (Roy Haylock), and directed by Matt Kugelman. Filmmakers Carly Usdin and Brittani Nichols of “Suicide Kale” also walked the Carpet, as well as Three Queens.

Reeling2016, the Chicago Lgbtq+ International Film Festival is in its 34th year, and has an incredible line-up of films, events and parties from September 22nd-29th. Theater venues include the historic Music Box Theater, Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema and Chicago Filmmakers.

Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Jon Espino for HollywoodChicago.com.

REELING1: Opening Night Marquee, Music Box Theatre Chicago.

Chicago – The second oldest Lgbtq+ International Film Festival in America, Reeling2016, is about to launched its 34th edition in Chicago at the historic Music Box Theatre on Thursday, September 22th (details below). The Opening Night film will be “Hurricane Bianca,” featuring famed comedian Roy Haylock, and his outrageous alter ego Bianca Del Rio. Haylock/Del Rio will walk the Red Carpet with writer/director (and Chicago native) Matt Kugelman.

Richard (Haylock) is a teacher from New York City, who finally lands a job in small town Texas. He makes no attempt to hide his gay orientation, which forces the vice principal (Rachel Dratch) to fire him. But the story does not end there. To exact revenge, Richard returns as his alter ego Bianca Del Rio, and wreaks her brand of havoc on the small minded attitudes of tiny town America. The film features cameos from a host of queer icons – Alan Cumming,...