RuPaul's Drag Race star Kandy Muse says she was violently assaulted at club: 'No is no — it's consent'

RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 queen and All Stars 8 finalist Kandy Muse says she was assaulted at a club on Friday night, telling EW that the incident involved an intoxicated man who "would not take no for an answer" and violently grabbed her at the venue.

After the drag superstar tweeted a video early Saturday of her arm marked with what appear to be scratches, alongside a message urging her fans to be mindful of consent, she said in a statement that a "much bigger" club patron approached her from behind and grabbed her without her permission.

"I was trying to push him off, telling him multiple times to stop [and to] get off me," she tells EW, adding that she does not want to reveal the location of the assault for security reasons. "After I shoved his arm off my pants, finally, he got upset and grabbed both of my arms and f---ing clawed his nails into my skin and was trying to fight me."

Kandy says security at the club was "diligent" in handling the man, and that she felt better the morning after the assault happened, though she still wants to stress the importance of consent.

"I believe it doesn’t matter how friendly or promiscuous [I am] or how short my shorts are," she says. "It doesn't matter how attractive you may find it — it doesn’t give anyone the right or green light to just put their hands on anyone."

The New York City–based performer adds that, after the initial attack, she "felt a bit crazy" and that she might be overreacting, but she ultimately realized she was feeling "the reason why people are sometimes scared to speak up" in similar situations.

"No is no — it’s consent. I told you get the f--- off me, and you didn’t listen," she says. "It’s my body. It’s not for you to just touch whenever you want."

Kandy initially shared her story on X on Saturday in a lengthy message to her followers.

"Wasn't going to post about this but might as well tell you babies to stay safe out there," Kandy —who, according to her Instagram Story, was in Fort Lauderdale Friday night — wrote before describing the man's anger over her disinterest. "He then [got] upset I wanted nothing to do with him and proceeded to attack me. I'm okay, was a bit shaken up last night – but people need to understand NO IS NO!"

After Kandy shared her story, her RuPaul's Drag Race sister Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté replied with a message of support, tweeting, "I'm glad you're ok! Cuz his ass woulda regretted tf outta that if I was there. Be safe, my love."

Kandy's message comes amid a series of assaults against Drag Race stars in recent months, including homophobic attacks on fellow franchise alums Envy Peru and The Vivienne.

After rising to national prominence on Drag Race season 13 in 2021, Kandy went on to star on Paramount+'s iCarly revival and in the TV movie Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch, before landing a role among the cast of returning queens competing on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 in 2023.

Subscribe to EW's Quick Drag podcast for recaps of RuPaul's Drag Race, including reactions from the cast, special guests, and more.

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