June 2, 2021
'Drag Race' Star Widow Von'Du Charged With 'Domestic Violence,' Claims Self-Defense
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 12 star Widow Von'Du was arrested and charged with domestic violence in Kansas City on May 31, People has reported. But in a video of the arrest posted to Twitter, the drag artist claims she was only defending herself in her own home.
The Wrap reported that, according to Kansas City police, Von'Du, whose legal name is Ray Fry, "was charged with one count of first-degree domestic assault and three counts of second-degree domestic assault and that Fry's bond was set at $50,000."
As revealed in the "probable cause affidavit" obtained by TMZ, "Von'Du came home early Friday morning in what her boyfriend described to cops as an intoxicated state ... and was apparently upset when she found her BF sleeping there, even though the boyfriend says he'd notified her he was gonna crash."
The boyfriend, who remains unidentified, said the drag performer "proceeded to punch his face 4 to 5 times, strangle him, drag him across the floor and eventually push him into a bed frame ... which the BF says knocked him unconscious after he hit his head, making him bleed profusely," according to TMZ.
The boyfriend made his way to a hospital, where he received 14 stitches. People also reported that police "responded to a call on Saturday [May 29] around 6 p.m. and 'contacted the victim who reported an assault.'"
A video of the arrest shows Von'Du telling the story a different way.
"They're taking me down because I was assaulted in my apartment, as someone else would not understand that his privilege does not extend to my apartment!" Von'Du can be heard saying, looking directly at a camera that is recording the scene.
In the clip, Von'Du is dressed in full drag regalia. She is seen standing in the street with her arms behind her – presumably in handcuffs – and talking to someone who appears to be a fellow drag performer while police move about in the background.
"And just because his ass got beat up because he would not leave when I asked five times, I am being arrested!" Von'Du says into the camera.
Per People's report, Von'Du – who is expected back in court on June 7 – "is on house arrest, cannot contact the alleged victim or witnesses, and must not possess or be in the presence of firearms, according to court records."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
