Drag performers have filed a $2 million defamation action against Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Video / NZherald
Drag performers have filed a $2 million defamation action against Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki after protests against their library storytime events.
Sunita Torrance and Daniel Lockett, known by their performing names, Coco and Erika Flash, filed the claim at the High Court in Auckland this morning.
The legal claims against Destiny Church include allegations of breach of contract, conspiracy to injure and unlawful means conspiracy, and defamation.
Torrance arrived at court this morning alongside her barrister, Christopher Griggs, to file the claim against Destiny Church, whose members have protested at LGBTQI+ events in the past months.
Brian Tamaki released a response on Thursday afternoon claiming he has not been formally served legal notification.
“We want to emphasise that we are not afraid of any potential court case. As a responsible entity, we are committed to addressing any legal issues through the appropriate legal channels.
“I believe a lot of good, common sense Kiwis are on my side with this issue.”
Torrance said they were forced to cancel their tour after protests and threats from Destiny Church members.
”Our rainbow story time was a hit,” Torrance said, who spoke of a “crusade against us and our act“ which has been “badly impacting on my business”.
Sunita Torrance at the High Court in Auckland today. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Torrance’s performing partner, Erika Flash, has moved to London as a result of the threats and cancellation of shows in New Zealand.
”This is not just about business, this is about hate speech versus free speech.”
Torrance said they are suing the defendants for a total of just over $2m plus costs.
Daniel Lockett as Erika Flash (left) and Sunita Torrance as Coco with Hastings District Councillor Wendy Schollum at a Rainbow Storytime NZ childrens' reading event at a library in Hastings in May 2022.
Entertainment company Haus of Flash Limited said the breach of contract relates to the cancellation of shows they were booked to perform, which were allegedly cancelled due to Tamaki and Destiny Church members.
Haus of Flash gave examples of statements allegedly made by Tamaki and Destiny Church members, including that drag queen story time was “like the wolf dressed as granny waiting for [Little] Red Riding Hood”; “foul predator behaviour”; “grooming” and “targeting our innocent kids with their filth”.
Sunita Torrance heads into court today. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Destiny Church has already faced court action for anti-LGBTQI+ protests. Tamaki’s grandson-in-law, Ford O’Connor, pleaded guilty to vandalising the Karangahape Rd rainbow crossing in March.
Three people were charged over defacing the Gisborne rainbow crossing after Destiny Church members protested outside a planned drag queen reading event in March.
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. Photo / Alex Burton
Torrance and Lockett have created a Givealittle page to help raise funds for the court action.
A spokesperson for Tamaki and Destiny Church said the church would release a statement today.
Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021, as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.
