A chunk of a drag queen’s natural hair was ripped out after a man grabbed her wig.
Liverpool performer Angelina was entertaining guests with a pub crawl through the city when she claims she was assaulted. The 20-year-old, from West Derby, was walking from Victoria Street to Blundell Street in the Baltic Triangle to return to her place of work, FunnyBoyz, when a group of men dressed in all black cycled past her.
The group, believed to be made up of six men and who were not part of the pub crawl, began shouting homophobic slurs towards Angelina and her co-worker and fellow drag queen, Shag Tagler. Angelina claims as the last member of the group cycled past, he grabbed onto her wig and pulled it with him.
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Angelina, who has been doing drag around the region for two years now, told the ECHO: “The last one grabbed my wig and ripped it off. It was glued down with spirit gum - wig glue - and it ripped a chunk of my natural hair out with it. My head jolted back but I was able to grab the wig back. My first thought was that I was still in work mode and didn’t want the guests to see that it got to me.”
Angelina’s friend, Shag Taylor, originally from Northern Ireland, wasn’t fully aware of what was happening initially but once she realised she “wanted to defuse the situation quickly.”
The 19-year-old John Moores University student said: “I was busy with customers but I heard homophobic slurs being shouted and looked up to see what was happening. I saw Angelina’s head jolting backwards and I was confused what was happening.
“When I realised, I just wanted to take the attention off Angelina so I took my wig off as well to turn the situation into a joke. I felt like it was the only thing I could do because at this stage they had cycled off so I felt pretty helpless.”
The incident, which happened just outside the Hilton Hotel, beside Liverpool ONE, was reported to the police.
Angelina added: “If it wasn’t for Shag it would have been a whole different story. She pulled her wig off in solidarity and that gave me the power to quickly get over it and on with work. The only thing I’m glad about is that it happened to be when I was surrounded by others and not someone who was by themselves.”
The two drag queens said the incident only made them more determined to be “louder and prouder” come the last week of July - when the city comes together to celebrate Pride.
Angelia said: “This is why we still need Pride. Things are starting to get progressively worse again, it was only a few weeks ago The Vivienne was attacked at McDonald’s in Liverpool. We get through these things by being there for each other and we always have got through these things.”
Merseyside police have confirmed they are now appealing for information after the incident. CCTV and witness enquiries are being carried out, and anyone with any information is asked to contact police.
Detective Inspector Alan Nuttall said: "No one should ever be subjected to this type of behaviour and should be able to do their job and be free to live their life without fear or intimidation.
"The offenders are described as aged around 20-years-old, dressed in black tracksuits and were on bikes. This took place at a busy time of the evening so I urge anyone who has information which can help with the investigation to please contact us.
"This behaviour cannot be tolerated, and we continue our work to identify those involved. If you have any information about this incident please contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with reference 23000597624."
