Shalimar Seiuli

Shalimar Seiuli
Born July 6, 1976
Mesepa, American Samoa
Died April 22, 1998(1998-04-22) (aged 21)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Accidental fall
Occupation Dancer

Saoaumaga Atisone Kenneth Seiuli (July 6, 1976 – April 22, 1998) known professionally as Shalimar, Atisone Seiuli, or Shalimar Seiuli was an American-Samoan transgender dancer and public figure who gained infamy when she was seen getting into the SUV of the actor Eddie Murphy.

Seiuli, a known prostitute, was being watched by police getting into the SUV, unaware that Murphy was the driver. Murphy was pulled over, questioned for 30 minutes, then released, while Seiuli was arrested for an outstanding warrant on prostitution charges. Murphy claimed he was just being a "good Samaritan" by giving Seiuli a ride.[1][2]

Overnight, the story made headlines, and was later parodied on an episode of Saturday Night Live. The National Enquirer paid Seiuli's $15,000 bond for exclusive details on her ride with Murphy. Seiuli also earned enough from publicity on the case to leave prostitution behind to work as a professional dancer.

Early life

Seiuli was born to a devout Mormon family in the village of Mesepa, American Samoa.[3] From a young age, Seiuli identified as female; adopting the name Shalimar after the imported French fragrance as a teenager. Seiuli was the cheerleading captain at Leone High School and was crowned Miss American Samoan Island Queen in 1993.

By 1996, Seiuli moved to Los Angeles, California where she began her transition from male to female via hormone replacement therapy; affording the pills by getting into street prostitution on Santa Monica Boulevard, a street notorious for transgender prostitution.

Arrest and subsequent infamy

At 4:55 AM on May 2, 1997. Los Angeles Police officers followed and pulled over a Toyota Land Cruiser after watching Shalimar enter the vehicle. It was then discovered that the driver was actor Eddie Murphy. Murphy was questioned then released since nothing illegal had occurred; however, Seiuli was arrested for an outstanding warrant for prostitution.[4] By morning, the story made international news, with a tabloid paying Shalimar's fifteen thousand dollar bond for details on her arrest.

Shalimar was then the subject of Candace Watkins book, In the Closet with Eddie Murphy, which featured stories by Atisone and other transgender sex workers who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Murphy. Murphy hired Hollywood private eye Paul Barresi to help defuse the scandal

Due to Seiuli's rising celebrity status, she filmed an erotic movie and left prostitution to become the House Madame of the nightclub, 7969, in which she performed erotic routines as a dominatrix with live snakes. Actors Demi Moore and Charlie Sheen reportedly attended her shows.

Death

On April 22, 1998, Seiuli's dead body was found by a neighbor in their Los Angeles apartment building, on the sidewalk, outside of the apartment. Clad only in lingerie, Shalimar was believed to have been locked out of her apartment building and tried to use her robe as a rope to swing from the roof to an open window; however, she fell five floors and suffered severe head trauma and other fractures, which resulted in her death.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/scary-hints-eddie-article-1.266680
  2. ↑ http://people.com/archive/double-trouble-vol-47-no-19/
  3. ↑ https://zagria.blogspot.com/2008/08/atisone-seiuli-19761998-sex-worker.html#.WXgIdsJK3IU
  4. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/cops-catch-eddie-murphy-transsexual-prostitute-1997-article-1.2617679
  5. ↑ http://www.eonline.com/news/36344/the-death-of-eddie-murphy-s-infamous-passenger
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