RuPaul has apologised over comments he made in an interview with The Guardian on trans contestants on his hit show, RuPaul’s Drag Race.
“Drag loses its sense of danger and its sense of irony once it’s not men doing it, because at its core it’s a social statement and a big f-you to male-dominated culture. So for men to do it, it’s really punk rock, because it’s a real rejection of masculinity.”
RuPaul went further to say
“You can identify as a woman and say you’re transitioning, but it changes once you start changing your body. It takes on a different thing; it changes the whole concept of what we’re doing. We’ve had some girls who’ve had some injections in the face and maybe a little bit in the butt here and there, but they haven’t transitioned.”
Backlash followed shortly after the post went viral with many sharing their thoughts on social media.
My drag was born in a community full of trans women, trans men, and gender non-conforming folks doing drag. That’s the real world of drag, like it or not. I thinks it’s fabulous and I will fight my entire life to protect and uplift it.
— Sasha Velour (@sasha_velour) March 5, 2018
Rupaul has been transphobic trash. There is no place for Transphobia within the LGBTQ community.
We have oppressed those within our shared oppression and it’s not ok. https://t.co/S176vP5CiS
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) March 5, 2018
Although I do feel the separation from being a drag queen and now a trans woman, there should not be any reason to be “not accepted” when it comes to the art of drag. If you are a fierce artist, your a fierce artist & should be judged based on your art. NOT your gender identity!
— Gia Gunn (@GiaGunn) March 5, 2018
My partner of almost three years is trans, and #bendelachrist help anyone who tries to tell him what he can and can’t do. Just sayin’.
— bendelacreme (@bendelacreme) March 5, 2018
Following the backlash RuPaul tweeted
You can take performance enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/HkJjzXzUGm
— RuPaul (@RuPaul) March 5, 2018
He finally took to his social media to apologise.
Each morning I pray to set aside everything I THINK I know, so I may have an open mind and a new experience. I understand and regret the hurt I have caused. The trans community are heroes of our shared LGBTQ movement. You are my teachers. pic.twitter.com/80Qi2halN2
— RuPaul (@RuPaul) March 5, 2018
In the 10 years we’ve been casting Drag Race, the only thing we’ve ever screened for is charisma uniqueness nerve and talent. And that will never change. pic.twitter.com/0jsyt6MRvO
— RuPaul (@RuPaul) March 5, 2018
While many have joked about one of the images used in his apology tweets adding that he googled “trains flag” instead of “trans flag” (which consists of pink, blue and white stripes), Peppermint, a former contestant on Drag Race has responded to his apology in an exclusive interview with Billboard.
She said:
“The most important takeaway is that ones transition, the beginning, the middle, and end, is entirely personal and cannot be categorized or measured in the context of being blessed by someone else’s validation or approval. RuPaul issued an apology, which I think is an important step in this ongoing conversation. It shows all of us, there is room for growth, education, and I’m hoping a bit of evolution.”
Last year, RuPaul’s hit reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” won three Emmys in the costume and editing categories, as well as the award for “Outstanding Host of a Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program.”
