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Drag Race Alum Widow Von'Du Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges
Drag Race Alum Widow Von'Du Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges
Von'Du says the incident was a matter of self-defense.
Widow Von'Du, a contestant on season 12 of RuPaul's Drag Race, has been arrested on domestic violence charges, but Von'Du says the incident was self-defense.
Police in Kansas City, Mo., received a report Saturday from a man, apparently a current or former boyfriend of Von'Du, according to TMZ, which was the first outlet to cover the story.
The man said Von'Du, whose legal name is Ray Fry, came home early Friday and was upset to find him sleeping there, even though he had told her he was going to do so. He told police Von'Du was intoxicated and punched him in the face several times, choked him, dragged him across the floor, and pushed him into a bed frame. He was hospitalized and received 14 stitches.
Police found probable cause to arrest Von'Du, and they did so Monday. The queen is charged with one count of first-degree domestic assault and three counts of third-degree domestic assault, according to court records obtained by People. Von'Du was released Tuesday after posting bond and is due to appear in court next Monday.
"In the meantime, she is on house arrest, cannot contact the alleged victim or witnesses, and must not possess or be in the presence of firearms," People reports.
A leaked video of the arrest shows Von'Du claiming self-defense. "You're taking me down because I was assaulted in my own apartment, as someone else would not understand that his privilege does not extend to my apartment," she said in the video.
Von'Du added, "As a Black man in this city, I'm being arrested for defending myself in my apartment. And just because his ass got beat up because he would not leave when I asked five times, I'm being arrested ... instead of someone being arrested for violating me."
\u201chttps://t.co/6l01yrOH06\u201d— Cynthia Doll (@Cynthia Doll) 1622578727
A fan of Von'Du's has created a Change.org petition calling on the Missouri governor and the state's Senate to arrange for Von'Du's release.
Von'Du placed seventh in season 12 of Drag Race. Last year she spoke with The Advocate about activism and being a survivor of abuse.
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