Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Scandals You Completely Forgot About
#10: The First Disqualification
The most tenured “Drag Race” fans likely remember where they were when they saw Willam infamously get dismissed from the competition. With her incredible runway looks and hilarious confessionals, the queen was cementing herself as a season 4 frontrunner. That all changed at the end of episode eight. After a legendary lip sync from the bottom two, tensions were high as they awaited their fate. In a moment of true drama, Ru called Willam’s name for elimination instead. At the reunion, the reason given for the disqualification was Willam’s secret visits from their partner, which were forbidden. But during a Twitter exchange with Leslie Jones, the queen painted a more complex picture, alleging poor working conditions and mistreatment by producers.
#9: Asttina’s Mental Health Struggles
It’s impossible to know how intense being a “Drag Race” is without experiencing it firsthand. The closest we’ll probably get is seeing Asttina Mandella’s shocking elimination during the second season of “Drag Race UK.” She slayed from the beginning, and quickly became a fan favorite. However, a lackluster showing during the "Who Wore It Best?" runway meant she was doomed to lip-sync for her life. Later on, Asttina revealed that she had stormed off the set the week before, and was struggling as filming for episode 3 unfolded. Citing alienation from her family and the overbearing production demands, she acknowledged that her mental health was in crisis at the time. Her story serves as a great reminder to always prioritize your wellbeing.
#8: Trans Participation
Drag daringly explores and deconstructs gender norms. “Drag Race” is a big deal for LGBTQ+ people. But for trans members of that community, it has sometimes left a lot to be desired. In 2018, RuPaul was asked about including non-men in the competition, and essentially shut the idea down. The queen acknowledged a trans contestant who was on the show, but emphasized that she appeared pre-operation. A flurry of statements condemning the remarks soon followed. Ru eventually expressed “regret” over the situation, but this wasn’t the first time she made problematic comments. Former contestant Carmen Carrera has called the host and show out for using transphobic slurs in the past. “Drag Race” has gone on to feature openly transgender contestants.
#7: Delta Work’s Lack of Recognition
Behind every gorgeous drag competition host stands a talented glam squad. In 2017, season 3 contestant Delta Work, who goes by Gabriel Villarreal out of drag, was recruited to manage her luscious locks. And Delta repeatedly proved the stellar quality of her work. In fact, she won a Primetime Emmy for her season 10 contributions in 2018 – but should it have been two…? The queen has expressed disdain for how she was treated during the following awards season. She claimed that the production company removed her from the nominations due to issues they had with her. The tea went unnoticed by some with this one, but the fact remains that queens should be recognized for their work.
#6: RuPaul vs. Pearl
RuPaul is a fixture in the drag community, and we imagine she’s quite an intimidating presence. But Pearl looked fear in the eye and spoke words that now live in infamy. This line was followed by an awkward staring contest with Mama Ru, who was pushing her to show more energy to the judges. Fans hotly debated whether or not Pearl was as apathetic as she seemed, and wondered what exactly was going. This moment lived on as an emblem of the two queens’ feud. For Pearl, what started as an opportunity to meet her hero became a sobering dose of reality. During an interview, she essentially claimed that RuPaul was there to make good television and nothing more.
#5: Manila Luzon’s Period Dress Drama
The core premise of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” is one of Ru-demption. We get a chance to see our favorite queens grace our screens once again, and they often come back better than ever. Manila Luzon revealed that during “All Stars” 4, she had been explicitly told not to wear a dress inspired by a menstrual pad. Luzon had hoped that it would normalize periods, but RuPaul apparently thought it was “in bad taste.” The ensemble she donned instead was gorgeous, no doubt, but arguably didn’t make the same statement. Drag artists are transgressive voices in the spaces they occupy, and the world of television is no different. Manila subsequently shared the look on Instagram, rekindling the discourse surrounding the show’s treatment of women.
#4: Poor Set Conditions
To the casual viewer, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” may seem like a glamorous chance to have fun, participate in exciting challenges, and don sickening looks. But there’s more to it than that. Queens put up with more than a few bumps and bruises to win the crown. Former contestants like Willam have alleged low food budgets, emotional manipulation by producers, and racial discrimination. That’s saying nothing of the physical risks that come with competing. Eureka O’Hara tore their ACL during a cheerleading challenge in season 9, and had to leave the show. Although this accident could have ruined their career, Eureka thankfully recovered and competed in the following season. Here’s hoping these incidents are all in the past, and that safety will remain top of mind.
#3: The Fracking
If you thought RuPaul herself is immune to messiness, you would be sadly mistaken. In 2020, the head queen herself shared that he and his husband lease mineral rights to their Wyoming ranch to oil companies. It wasn’t long before everyone started talking about the fact that RuPaul was seemingly allowing fracking to occur on his property. Given the rising threat posed by climate change and the practice’s negative effects on the environment, people were concerned. Others claimed that the couple didn’t really have a say in the matter. Either way, the memes persisted, viral videos were made, and over time, the scandal just kind of faded into obscurity.
#2: Tyra Sanchez’s Many Controversies
Dubbed by RuPaul as “the other Tyra,” this season two winner captured much of what we love about old-school drag: impeccable looks, powerful stage presence, and shade for days. But a few years after being crowned, the contestant came under fire for insensitive comments made on Twitter. As if that weren’t enough, Tyra also posted a fake obituary for former castmate Morgan McMichaels. The final strike was an ominous Facebook post that seemingly alluded to a violent event taking place at DragCon 2018. Luckily, that was also a hoax. The next year, Sanchez posted a broad apology taking some ownership for their actions.
#1: Sherry Pie’s Catfishing
After numerous seasons of explosive arguments, crown-stealing, and fierce competition, one would assume that they’d seen it all. However, there was one contestant on season twelve who was disqualified after production had wrapped, with only the finale still not filmed. New York City’s Sherry Pie was thought to be a front-runner, with her campy aesthetic and compelling stage presence. But when the cast was officially announced, several people came forward to allege that Sherry, a.k.a. Joey Gugliemelli, had deceived them by impersonating a casting director. In response, “Drag Race”’s production company retconned the entirety of season twelve by editing her out as much as possible. For the most part, fans seemed to agree that this was the right move.
