Shalimar Seiuli

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

On May 2, 1997, Seiuli, a transgender sex worker, was being watched by police before getting into Murphy's SUV. Seiuli was unaware of who the driver was. Murphy was pulled over by police, questioned for thirty 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 home.

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 in exchange for exclusive details on her ride with Murphy.

Early life Seiuli was born Saoaumaga Atisone Seiuli, the oldest of four siblings raised as devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the village of Mesepa, American Samoa. She adopted the name "Shalimar" after the imported French fragrance as a teenager. She was fa’afafine.

By morning, the story made international news, with the tabloid The National Enquirer paying Seiuli's fifteen thousand dollar bond in exchange for details on her arrest. "It's unfair I went to jail while Eddie Murphy walked away scot-free", she told the Enquirer. Seuili claimed to have received threats since her encounter with Murphy, as she refused to change her story. The coroner's report stated someone heard a scream at 5 o'clock in the morning, which is believed to indicate the time of Seiuli's death.