RuPaul’s Drag Race star Widow Von’Du arrested for alleged domestic violence
Widow Von’Du attends ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12’ Meet the Queens at TRL Studios on 26 February 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Widow Von’Du has been arrested and charged for alleged domestic violence against her boyfriend.
The drag performer was arrested on Monday (31 May) by the Kansas City Police Department after an altercation with her boyfriend over the weekend. The police told PEOPLE that they responded to a call on Saturday (29 May) around 6pm and “contacted the victim who reported an assault”.
Widow Von’Du, who was a contestant on Drag Race season 12, was charged with one count of domestic assault in the first degree and three counts of domestic assault in the second degree. She was released on Tuesday (1 June) after posting bond.
Von’Du is due to appear in court on 7 June and is on house arrest in the meantime. She also cannot contact the alleged victim and cannot be in possession of any firearms.
A probable cause affidavit, obtained by TMZ, said Von’Du came home early on Friday morning in an “intoxicated state” and was upset to see her boyfriend sleeping there. The affidavit said the boyfriend claimed he notified the Drag Race star that he was going to visit.
According to the affidavit, the boyfriend told police that Von’Du punched him multiple times, strangled him and dragged him across the floor. He said he was also knocked unconscious at one point.
TMZ reported the boyfriend eventually was hospitalised and received 14 stitches to his face and head. The authorities launched a preliminary investigation and found probable cause to get an arrest warrant for Von’Du.
However, a video posted by Missouri drag performer Cynthia Doll on Twitter showed Widow Von’Du being arrested, saying that she was “assaulted in my own apartment”. Von’Du said that she was being arrested for “defending myself in my apartment”.
“As a Black man in this city, I am being arrested for defending myself in my apartment,” Von’Du said in the video. “And just because his ass got beat up because he would not leave when I asked five times, I’m being arrested.”
She continued: “So what I want everyone to see is that I am being arrested right now for defending myself in my apartment instead of someone being arrested for violating me.”
— Cynthia Doll (@cyndollx) June 1, 2021
A representative for the Kansas City Police Department told PEOPLE that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-violence charity, supporting LGBT+ people experiencing hate crime, domestic abuse and sexual violence. Report an incident and get advice here.
