Flotilla DeBarge, the Empress of Large, has long been a popular figure within the New York City nightlife scene. She has been cast in several movies such as To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar, Marci X, and the miniseries version of Angels in America. Flotilla appeared on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera as well as performing an Off-Broadway one-woman show, The Flotilla DeBarge Minstrel Show. DeBarge would garner considerable attention in 2005 when PETA featured Flotilla, as Star Jones, in an anti-fur Ad. Jones reportedly threatened to sue both PETA and Flotilla as a result of the ad. In 2006 DeBarge was arrested for assault with a high-heeled shoe during a bar fight in NYC. Though several witnesses said that Flotilla did not start the fight, it was clear that with the aid of her shoe, she finished it. Flotilla originally plead not guilty but later changed her plea to guilty and served time. Shortly after her release DeBarge would create a new solo show based on the experience, Flotilla DeBarge: Freshly Released — Black, Blessed & Free. Of her time in jail DeBarge would later say, “It certainly wasn’t OZ, honey. There was no Chris Meloni in sight.”
