Reality TV star Sidney Starr arrested on child abuse charges

American transgender actress and reality television personality Sidney Starr has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a minor.

Starr, known for "Love & Hip Hop: New York" and "Baddies ATL," faces multiple counts including child molestation and sexual abuse.

Police in Hapeville, Georgia, arrested Starr on Sunday (August 2). She has been charged with sexual abuse of a child under 16, aggravated child molestation and sodomy, and is currently being held without bail at the Fulton County Jail.

According to a report by Fox 5 Atlanta, the alleged incident took place at an Embassy Suites hotel on International Boulevard in Hapeville. The arrest warrant states Starr admitted to engaging in oral sex with the minor but claimed the act was consensual.

A police department spokesperson said no further details would be released given a minor's involvement in the case.

Starr's mother, Stephanie Favors, told TMZ the abuse allegations were completely out of character for her daughter. She said Starr had travelled to Atlanta for work and that she had not spoken with her since the arrest.

In a statement, Starr denied all charges against her and said she intended to prove her innocence through the legal process. She thanked her fans and asked for privacy, adding that her individual case should not be used to cast judgment on the broader transgender community.

Starr first rose to prominence in 2019 on the ninth season of "Love & Hip Hop: New York" and has since appeared on reality shows including "Baddies ATL," "Baddies South," "Botched" and "Black Ink Crew: Chicago."