Maddy O’Neal Speaks Out After Being Drugged at Her Own Show

Electronic music artist Maddy O'Neal was drugged at her own show over the weekend, she revealed today.

The incident, she said, occurred Sunday night after her set at Schmiggity's Live Music Dance Bar in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. O'Neal, who was recently featured in EDM.com's list of the best performances of 2024, shared her experience on social media.

"Got drugged at my own fucking show last night… after such an epic weekend had to end it like that," O'Neal said in a thread on X, which has since been deleted. "Feeling pretty violated and disheartened with humanity today."

O'Neal went on to express gratitude that the ordeal happened post-show and that she was surrounded by friends at the time. However, she did not hold back her anger and frustration, adding, "When you give so much and just trying to be a little bit of light in the world it's pretty fucked to know there’s ppl [sic] like that out there."

Another woman, Erika Barger, also claimed to have been drugged at the event and is now planning to file a police report, she said in a comment shared on an Instagram post from Schmiggity's.

The incidents underscore the persistent issue of date rape drugs at music venues and events, with performers themselves now becoming targets.

70% of young adults have either experienced or witnessed drink-spiking, according to a report published last year by LADbible Group and Stamp Out Spiking. A staggering 87% of victims choose not to report their experiences to authorities, citing reasons such as insufficient evidence, concerns about a lack of police intervention and believing it was too late to report after the incident.

A new California law, AB 1013, went into effect in 2024 to take action against the disturbing trend of drink-spiking in nightlife venues. The ordinance requires businesses to offer onsite "test strips, stickers, straws, and other devices designed to detect the presence of controlled substances in a drink."

Officials in Austin, Texas took similar measures back in April, when they launched the "Sip Safely" drink-spiking awareness program through a $100,000 City Council budget. Participating nightlife establishments offered onsite drug-testing materials and drink covers while the city provided training for employees on drink-spiking response, opioid overdose awareness and sexual assault prevention and intervention.

Follow Maddy O'Neal:

X: x.com/maddy_oneal
Instagram: instagram.com/maddy_oneal
TikTok: tiktok.com/@maddy.oneal.music
Facebook: facebook.com/maddyonealmusic
Spotify: spoti.fi/3xv4PYE