Exotic Dancer Turns Legal Advocate Against Alleged Abuse in NYC Clubs

A former exotic dancer is now pursuing action against five strip clubs in New York, alleging that their managers participated in trafficking her and neglected to protect her from assaults by customers.

“While I was performing, I saw these clubs accepting money and ignoring the abuse we faced,” Christine DeMaria shared, recounting her experiences at two private VIP lounges in Manhattan.

“I endured severe injuries, including a bite on my chest that bled. Onstage, I was assaulted by a patron who choked me with a belt and raped me. I lost my job after reporting the incident,” the 37-year-old stated.

DeMaria, who grew up in New Jersey, revealed that at just 15, she was trafficked to Arizona by an older man.

She entered the stripping scene in 2014.

“When I reported the rape, the manager dismissed me, saying, ‘You’re a stripper. You asked for this,’” she reflected. “No one ever asks to be assaulted.”

DeMaria described being slapped multiple times hard enough to leave marks on her skin.

“In this industry, dancers often feel compelled to tolerate abuse or risk being unable to support themselves,” she noted.

“I’ve seen countless times how club owners and managers neglect the humanity of those working for them,” she added.

Deciding to leave the industry in 2021, she turned her focus to law school in New York.

While studying, DeMaria launched a nonprofit called Switch, aimed at offering dancers vital resources and a potential path out of the industry.

This year, she was honored as a recipient of the Walentas Family Foundation David Award, which recognizes five innovative New Yorkers annually.

According to the David Prize, DeMaria “envisions a New York where people can be irreplaceable in an industry often driven by profit.” She graduated law school in June and passed the state bar exam shortly after.

Having worked at Sapphire 39 and Sapphire 60, DeMaria is seeking $10 million for various allegations including rape and unlawful imprisonment, as detailed in court filings.

“I witnessed how women who resisted or reported sexual misconduct faced severe repercussions while management profited from our suffering,” she recalled.

“During my time in the clubs, I lacked the knowledge and support to seek justice. My legal education has equipped me to hold these establishments accountable,” DeMaria stated.

She has also filed lawsuits against Vivid Cabaret and Hoops Cabaret, seeking $15 million for similar allegations.

Additionally, DeMaria has brought a case against Long Island club Gossip for harassment and discrimination, requesting $2.5 million in damages.

The lawsuits are ongoing, and attorneys for the implicated clubs have not yet commented.

Other former dancers have joined DeMaria’s lawsuit against Sapphire, claiming they also faced sexual assault, leading to both physical and emotional injuries.

“Too many strip clubs act as if consent to dance equates to consent to abuse,” remarked DeMaria’s attorney, Megan Goddard. She highlighted the dismissive attitudes of club managers toward reported assaults.

DeMaria hopes her legal actions will catalyze change in the industry.

“I’ve committed my life to advocating for strippers, sex workers, and human trafficking victims,” she concluded.

Sapphire has stated that it takes such allegations seriously and provides employees with avenues to report misconduct. However, they claimed they only became aware of DeMaria’s allegations upon being served with the lawsuit.