Drag Queen Faces Abuse After Children's Storytelling Event Controversy
Marcus Hunter-Neill, known by his stage name Lady Portia Di'Monte, has spoken about the distress caused when his image was circulated on websites associated with so-called paedophile hunters following a children's storytelling event. The incident and subsequent abuse left him fearing for his life.
TalkTV aired footage from a protest related to the event, accompanied by what they later described as "an unfounded allegation." The broadcaster has since issued a public apology, retracted their comments, and paid substantial damages to Hunter-Neill.
"There was a point I just did not want to be on this planet because it was just horrific,"
the activist and author told NI.
As part of the August 2025 Eastside Arts Festival in east Belfast, the Drag Queen Storytime with British Sign Language (BSL) Interpretation featured Lady Portia and another drag performer. The event took place at Holywood Arches Library but was disrupted when a crowd of protesters gathered outside, leading to police escorting the performers from the venue.
Footage of the protest was subsequently shared widely on social media platforms.
NI has confirmed that due to safety concerns, the event will not be held this year.
Hunter-Neill expressed confusion over the controversy, noting that the event had been running for a decade without incident.
"I asked: 'What do you actually think happened in there?'"
"How do you ever change hearts and minds? It's by having conversations and dialogue. It's me going, 'I 100% understand and empathise with you for protesting. You genuinely believed somewhere in your soul that terrible things were happening on the other side of this door.'"
"But the truth is we played Simon Says and read two books and taught children how to say 'hello, how are you?' in sign language and that was it."
He described the experience of being escorted home in a police car as surreal.
"I walked to the event, waved into the local shops, the butchers and sweet shop and they're all waving back,"
"I was expecting to walk back and then I end up in the back of a police car in complete fight or flight mode, where I couldn't even speak, I couldn't form words, I couldn't remember where I lived or what my address was."
Hunter-Neill's solicitor, Victoria Haddock of Phoenix Law, characterized TalkTV's settlement as a vindication of her client's reputation.
Personal Impact Amid Family Health Crisis
Hunter-Neill described the episode as a significant emotional challenge during an already difficult period in his life.
"At the same time, my dad had got diagnosed with stage four cancer days before this all happened so his first round of chemo and everything was happening when all of this was kicking off,"
"I was just trying to hold everything together for him and my family but even leaving my house to go to the car to get to go to the hospital I was petrified to walk from my front door to my car."
His father, Billy, a former prison officer who managed the gym at Maze Prison during the Troubles, passed away in December.
"The last physical conversation that I had with my dad, lucid, with breath in his body, was talking about this.
"Of all the things that I could have been talking to my dad about."
Public Debate and Community Reactions
The incident sparked widespread public debate. In the days following the event, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons stated that he did not consider the event "appropriate" for children and believed it "should not have taken place."
Lyons said it had "compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all as set out in the Libraries NI policy."
Some members of the public view drag performances as a form of adult entertainment and argue they are unsuitable for library settings.
Hunter-Neill, however, emphasized the educational value of such events.
"I would take part in an event like this 100 times over,"
"I would do it weekly if the opportunity was there simply because when you normalise difference then it's not a scary thing."
Actors' Union Responds to Political Comments
In a related development, the actors' union Equity announced plans to launch a UK-wide campaign opposing what it describes as "political interference in the arts," in response to Minister Lyons' remarks last year.
Equity, representing approximately 50,000 members in the UK performing arts and entertainment sectors, sent an open letter to the minister following his comments. Lyons replied in October 2025, maintaining his position.
At Equity's annual conference earlier this month, a motion was passed referencing Lyons' statements, emphasizing the responsibility of public officials.
"In a position of power and influence, a minister's responsibility must extend beyond personal belief or party politics."
NI requested a comment from the Department for Communities. A spokesperson referred to the minister's letter to Equity dated 21 October 2025.
"While I respect your viewpoint on the matter, I maintain my position that the storytelling event on Friday 1 August in Holywood Arches Library was not appropriate for children and should not have taken place."
