More than 70 people interviewed during a three-year investigation by The 19th said their drinks were drugged at The Abbey in West Hollywood. In some cases, patrons provided medical documentation of hospitalizations, photos, text messages, videos or contacts for companions who cared for them, which were all reviewed by The 19th as a part of its investigation. Reporters also interviewed Abbey bartenders and other staff, West Hollywood City Council members, toxicology experts, and law enforcement officials in an effort to capture a full picture of the culture and allegations at the bar, The 19th said. Abbey management denied all the allegations. Photo: Q Voice News
More than 70 people interviewed during a three-year investigation by The 19th said their drinks were drugged at The Abbey in West Hollywood.
They drank less than what they thought was their usual alcohol limit — in some cases consuming only soda pop or water — but experienced varying levels of disorientation or lost consciousness, according to the article.
In some cases, patrons provided documentation of hospitalizations, photos, text messages, videos or contacts for companions who cared for them, which were reviewed by The 19th as a part of its investigation.
Reporters also interviewed Abbey bartenders and other staff, West Hollywood City Council members, toxicology experts, and law enforcement officials in an effort to get a full picture of the allegations and culture at the bar, The 19th said.
For more than 30 years, The Abbey has operated not only as a bar and club, but also as a safe and welcoming space for the queer community. The Abbey announced in November that David Cooley sold the bar, but management would stay in place, including general manager Todd Barnes and assistant general manager Kiki Farahat.
The 19th investigated claims of druggings and sexual assault at The Abbey that range from 2007 to summer 2023, only seven of these claims have resulted in a lawsuit, which was settled out of court in early 2015.
In a statement to The 19th, The Abbey said it would not discuss specific lawsuits, but “settling a lawsuit does not necessarily indicate any wrongdoing.”
Public records show that elected leaders and law enforcement officials in West Hollywood were aware of allegations of spiked drinks at The Abbey dating to 2016, The 19th said.
Few patrons interviewed by The 19th reported their alleged incidents to police; however, several of them said they tried to tell Abbey management about suspicions that their drinks had been spiked.
The Abbey says that in its more than 30 years in business, no evidence exists to suggest staff members have drugged patrons.
But four former employees told The 19th that customers and staff alerted Abbey management to possible spiked drinks at the bar on many occasions, but management counseled staff to say that the club has strong drinks.
The Abbey did not address the former employee’s claim, The 19th said, but in the statement said, “When anyone reports a crime to The Abbey, including suspected druggings, we ask them to file a police report immediately. We are well known for our cocktails. For some people, 1 drink is more than enough. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to know their limits.”
The article also details concerns from patrons who tried to file police reports, but said they received push back from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, and the fears some people have about being retaliated against by The Abbey if they speak out about their claims of being drugged at the bar.
