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Canadian drag artist Venus Sherwood has retracted their initial allegations of mistreatment by Puerto Vallarta police, stating that injuries sustained occurred in a prior altercation before police involvement.
Sherwood, known for winning “Canada’s Drag Race,” had previously claimed on social media to be “a victim of violent aggression and extortion by Puerto Vallarta municipal police” which allegedly included being handcuffed, thrown in a police vehicle, choked, and kicked. Sherwood also stated that $1,000 USD in cash, headphones, and additional money were taken for their release, expressing feeling “kidnapped by the police.”
The claims became sensational international news.
However, in an update posted on Instagram early Tuesday, Sherwood stated, “my initial response was made prematurely and without having all the facts.”
The full statement from Sherwood’s Instagram story reads:
“Hi everyone,
I want to take a moment and provide some clarity to my earlier post regarding an incident that took place during my stay in Puerto Vallarta. In a moment of fear and deep confusion, I shared concerns about my treatment at the hands of the local police department, after blacking out unexpectedly. When I came to, my lack of clear memories, combined with the status of my physical injuries, lead me to believe that something serious had happened while I was detained.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with representatives from the authorities, local advocacy groups, such as the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center, and the incredible team at the Almar Resort, to better understand the events of that night. Through that process, I’ve come to learn additional context and recognize that my initial response was made prematurely and without having all the facts.
It was made clear to me that I was involved in an altercation, however I can confirm that this occurred prior to any police involvement and is not the result of a wrongful abduction or brutality by the authorities. I acknowledge that I should have waited until I had more clarity before making any public accusations and take full accountability that my previous statement does not align with the events of that night. I want to take a moment and express a deep gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of those who helped me piece things together with compassion and care.
I am safe, recovering, and incredibly thankful for the messages of support I’ve received. Your kindness has meant the world to me. I am especially appreciative of the generosity from the local LGBTQIA2S+ community of Puerto Vallarta, who came together in my time of need to offer me safety, support & resolution.
With love, Venus”
Sherwood also spoke with EW magazine, telling the publication, “the statements I previously made in the screenshots shared are not accurate and were made in a state of extreme fear as I was not in the right frame of mind.”
Community Still Shows Concern With Police Behavior
Despite Sherwood’s retraction, concerns regarding the conduct of Puerto Vallarta police persist within the local LGBTQ+ community.
Victor Espindola, with MOVII Mexico and part of the Vallarta LGBTQ+ Collective, emphasized the broader context of reported issues.
“We respect and are empathetic to the vulnerable situation that Venus went through,” Espindola stated. “We know that she herself has clarified part of what happened, and we trust her word. However, this case cannot be separated from the context: for more than a year, multiple complaints of abuse of authority towards LGBTIQ+ people have been reported in Puerto Vallarta, without any strong responses. This confirms the urgency of clarifying the facts and moving towards a real policy of zero tolerance for the excessive use of force and police abuse.”
Recent efforts by the police to address these concerns include a “town hall” meeting where Police Chief Eduardo Horacio Llanas Cuevas acknowledged the reports and stressed the importance of filing formal complaints to initiate investigations. However, community advocates argue that more decisive action is needed to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.
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