Latest news with #DragQueens
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 Finale: Which Wild Card Pick Will Return? And Which Queen Was Snubbed?
Gooped. Gagged. Gobsmacked. If any of the above describe your current emotional state, there's a good chance you just finished watching the penultimate episode of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10. I'll start with the question on every viewer's mind: What the heck happened to Mistress Isabelle Brooks? Initially considered a frontrunner in the competition, both as a fierce competitor and a shady schemer, the Texas titan returned for the semifinals last week as a shell of her former self, bombing Snatch Game and having to lip sync for her life. But instead of letting this light a fire under her, Mistress continued to spiral this week, landing back in the bottom two after a subpar talent show performance and so-so runway look. More from TVLine Criminal Minds Boss Talks Finale's Chilling Tease, Reveals Season 19 Time Jump and 'Overdue' [Spoiler] Arc Get Paramount+ for Just $1/Month - Binge Criminal Minds, The Chi, Drag Race All Stars and More Save the Dates: Eva Longoria's Wrexham Spinoff, Drop on Peacock and More And that's to say nothing of her bizarre behavior throughout Episode 11, beginning with her icing out the other queens with short, snippy responses. I'm proud of Aja for maintaining her composure in the Werk Room; lesser queens would have lost their cool over Mistress' senseless taunting. The more she talked, the more I felt like I was watching someone unravel — someone I once genuinely rooted for. But after suffering through more of Mistress' shenanigans this week, I wasn't the least bit disappointed to see Lydia B(utthole) Kollins send her home at the end of the hour. That's right, Mistress was the last contestant eliminated ahead of next week's grand finale. That means the following queens are confirmed to be competing in the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza: Aja, Bosco, Daya Betty, Ginger Minj, Irene the Alien, Jorgeous and Lydia. But wait, the gooping, gagging and gobsmacking continues! Following Mistress' elimination, RuPaul (with an assist from the always-delightful Angeria Paris VanMicheals) revealed the judges' Wild Card picks: Ross Mathews chose Mistress, while Michelle Visage and Ts Madison both chose Kerri Colby. Did anyone else assume that three judges would mean three queens? Because I sure did! And are you also surprised that none of the judges voted to bring back Denali? Don't get me wrong, Kerri definitely deserved a vote, and I'm not totally shocked that Mistress got one, but Denali felt like she earned a shot at Ru-demption. The online backlash after she 'lost' that lip sync to Ginger was real. Regardless, two Kerri balls and one Mistress ball were placed in the sacred Drag Race Bingo cage, but whose name did Bruno pull out? Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until next week for that answer. (Believe me, I watched that preview from the finale in super slow motion. No dice.) On a more positive note, I'd also like to congratulate Bosco on her well-deserved win this week. Watching her thrive on this show all season long has been a delight, and I'd be pleased as punch to see her crowned the winner of All Stars 10 next week. #TeamBosco Who are you hoping to see back on the main stage in next week's finale? Were you also expecting to see Denali's name in one of those envelopes? And who do you think will/should win the whole season? Vote for the name you hope to see in Bruno's hand, then drop a comment with your thoughts on all things below. Best of TVLine Mrs. Maisel Flash-Forward List: All of Season 5's Futuristic Easter Eggs Yellowjackets Recap: The Morning After Yellowjackets Recap: The First Supper
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Boston Red Sox spark controversy after putting on pre-game drag show for Pride Day
Fenway Park's annual Pride Night has been heavily criticized online in the days since a group of drag queens were welcomed on the field in Boston before the Red Sox hosted the Tampa Bay Rays. 'Gross' and 'disgusting' were just two of the judgements posted on X, where many others joined in the attack. 'Be more like the @ Rangers,' another added, referring to the only Major League Baseball team without a Pride Month celebration. Several commenters questioned the logic behind MLB events aimed at including LBGTQ+ fans, arguing they're not really baseball's target audience. However, a 2021 survey by the Sociology of Sport Journal found that 30 percent of gay men and 40 percent of lesbians were passionate sports fans, while many others followed sports casually. Boston's Pride Day differed from other MLB clubs in that the Red Sox invited fans to arrive early for a drag show on the concourse at Fenway Park. drag queen performs for a crowd of Boston Red Sox on the Fenway Park concourse The public address announcer at MLB's oldest stadium added a message from the team: 'We know that visibility and inclusivity in sports not only affirm the right of everyone to participate and along, but also enrich the spirit of competition and camaraderie. 'When teams, front offices and fans come together to create welcoming environments, everyone can thrive, and we prove that we are all better when we stand together.' Massachusetts does have a relatively large LGBTQ community as a share of its population. A 2018 study by Boston Indicators and The Fenway Institute (no relation to the ballpark) found that five percent of Massachusetts citizens identified as LGBTQ, more than all but one state. That same study found that nearly half of Massachusetts' gay youth had attempted suicide at some point, which is the kind of troubling statistic that's led the Red Sox, MLB and other sports properties to offer Pride Day celebrations. Regardless, Pride Day still ignited a torrent of criticism directed at the Red Sox, who lost to the Rays, 10-8, as top prospect Roman Anthony made his debut. 'Disgusting and degenerate,' wrote one self-described former fan. 'There is a reason I refuse to watch ya'll anymore. I've been a fan for 30+ years. Focus on the game instead of degeneracy and politics, idiots.' Per Getty Images, the Red Sox have been welcoming drag queens to Fenway for Pride Day for at least the last four seasons, but that didn't stop one fan from declaring that the 2025 ceremony was her breaking point. 'Unfollowing you and no longer watching your games,' the woman wrote. 'You just lost a 20+ year fan.' Joining in the on-field ceremony were representatives from the the Boston Legacy Football Club of the NWSL, the Boston Fleet of the PWHL, Boston Common Golf, the NHL's Boston Bruins, and NBA's Boston Celtics. Fans attending Monday's game were given a Red Sox Pride hat with rainbow coloring — an item some fans found appealing. 'Love it!' wrote the X users. 'Hey at RedSox, where can I get one of those hats? They are stunning!'
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
‘All Stars 10' Reminds Us That Drag Race Verses Are A Brand Strategy
RuPaul's Drag Race, like many other reality competition shows, has recurring challenges that fans eagerly anticipate each season. For example, in addition to Drag Race contestants needing to bring looks to fit their runway themes, there are several challenges that they have to prepare for. Of course, some challenges are meant to be fresh and new to keep the audience engaged, but every fan of Drag Race knows there's going to be 4 challenges that the queens are going to have to survive if they want a chance at winning the crown. The first being the sewing challenge where queens have to make an outfit from scratch, the second being the snatch game where the contestants have to do a funny improved impersonation of an iconic character or personality alongside their competitors, the second being the roast where the queens have to make fun of a particular host, guest, or their fellow contestants, and the final challenge being the girl group challenge where the contestants music work together to make a convincing song with their teammates and still manage to stand out. MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 12: Mistress Isabelle Brooks performs RuPaul's Drag Race: Werq The World ... More Tour at Mediolanum Forum of Assago on November 12, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) This time around, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 elected to combine the roast challenge and the girl group challenge, dubbing it the 'Rappin' Roast.' The queens were tasked with performing a song where they rapped and roasted their fellow contestants. This added a new layer to two already iconic staples in the Drag Race franchise that had already shown in prior seasons to be difficult for even the best of competitors in the show. Stacked with masters of shade like Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Nicole Paige Brooks, and Jorgeous, this challenge required not only wit, but cadence and memorable verses. From iconic songs in Drag Race's history like Break Up Bye Bye made famous by the Frock Destroyers in the first season of Drag Race Uk and the legendary Read U Wrote U from the final four of Drag Race All Stars 2, the contestants are no strangers to the opportunities that songs on the show can bring. There isn't a single long-time fan of Drag Race that doesn't know the lyrics 'Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova, but your dad just calls me Katya.' That line, again from Read U Wrote U, gave Katya of Season 7 of Drag Race, All Stars 2, and Unhhh fame a direct link to her fans to show them her persona, creativity, and branding all at once. These songs, which later get added to streaming platforms, keep queens top of mind with fans and keep them engaged for if said queens ever release music on their own. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 1: In this image released on October 1, Shea Couleé is seen ... More onstage during Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 presented by Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California; and broadcast on October 2, 2020. (Photo byfor Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Presented by Amazon Prime Video) Shea Coulee, from season 9 of Drag Race and the winner of All Stars 5, released an EP after performing Category Is… with her castmates. Doing that offered her an avenue that inevitably led to her first EP Couleé-D while her season was still top of mind, building upon her brand and showing fans that she versatile in more than just her looks on the runway. With All Stars 10 steady underway and queens teasing new music, alongside other queens, like Megami from season 16 of Drag Race and Ocean Kelly, a well known performer and rapper in the Drag Race orbit, who aren't on the latest season of the show but are branding themselves by admitting they helped write and shape several of the verses fans are hearing on the stage, expanding their platforms and clientele if the verses are well received and future contestants come to them for ghostwriting. What started as a fun and quirky challenge has turned into an entire expansion for queens to build their brands and start their musical platforms. All Stars 10 continues to prove that these challenges are always more than just being about winning or losing; they're a vehicle for reinvention.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘RuPaul's Drag Race' Doesn't Need A Rainbow Logo To Celebrate Pride
There's a running joke on social media when pride month rolls around. When the clocks strikes 12 on June 1st, companies across the planet will change their logos to reflect the pride flag. Whether it's a joke or not, most consumers understand that queer representation is important and while Pride month may only be 30 days long, and while many people appreciate the highlighted shows and films that show up under the 'inspiring stories' tabs on our favorite streaming platforms, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' doesn't need to change it's logo or release special merchandise when June rolls around. More than just a reality tv show or a franchise, RuPaul's Drag Race consistently remains an unapologetically and authentically queer show that has become a global phenomenon. RuPaul takes the stage during the taping of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 in Culver City JULY 31, ... More 2009. The television show's host, drag queen RuPaul mentors then judges a set of young drag queens during several competitions in their quest to become the ultimate drag queen (Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Since its debut in 2009 on Logo TV, Drag Race has been unapologetic in its showcase of the LGBT+ community and drag culture as a whole where other shows might struggle with consistency. With the show starting as a small with a low budget and a filter that OG fans are still trying to wrap their heads around, Drag Race shared with viewers a multitude of queens that had powerful stories that tugged at the hearts of viewers, we've been introduced to moments of authenticity that didn't shy away from being heartwarming and even heartbreaking at times. With multiple contestants over the years coming forward with their positive HIV status to help decrease the stigma on people living with a positive diagnosis and encouraging people to know their status, Drag Race has helped save the lives of viewers who were previously too afraid to get tested or too afraid to talk about their status; Drag Race has been a megaphone where silence was expected. Several contestants, both during, after, and even when returning to the show, have talked about how drag has helped them explore their own gender identity, with multiple queens coming out as trans and gender non-conforming in the show's 17-season tenure. Even contestants that have returned to the show multiple to times to compete have come out and talked about how they've been able to transition due to drag allowing them to explore their identity without judgment. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: RuPaul (C) with cast and crew accept the Outstanding Reality ... More Competition Program award for "RuPaul's Drag Race" onstage during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Even with the everchanging public opinion on queer artistry and the LGBT+ community in general, Drag Race has never compromised or toned down it's queer authenticity and that, arguably, is the reason why it is the most decorated reality tv show with the most Emmys, including awards for outstanding host for RuPaul himself. What started off as a fun project that RuPaul felt would never be mainstream has become a global phenomenon that encompasses all of the ideals of Pride Month year round. Drag Race, like many of its contestants, has managed to turn a stage built on authenticity into a currency that's profitable, a formula that has managed to create multiple spin-offs, both domestically and internationally. 'Throughout our culture, there are little windows and pockets of time when people are open,' RuPaul said in a recently resurfaced clip of 'In Bed With Joan' when talking about the success of Drag Race. '… And I think the success of our show is a part of that openness.'
CBC
21-02-2025
- CBC
Court awards $380K to pride organization, drag queens in northwestern Ontario defamation suit
A blogger in Thunder Bay, Ont., has been ordered by Ontario's Superior Court of Justice to pay $380,000 in damages, after making Facebook posts in 2022 accusing drag performers of grooming children. The judgment was made on two separate, related libel cases, and was issued Thursday by Justice Helen M. Pierce after being heard in the northwestern Ontario city on Jan. 31 via ZOOM. The cases relate to Facebook posts made in September 2022 and December 2022 by blogger Brian Webster on a page called "Real Thunder Bay Courthouse – Inside Edition." The page is no longer active. The first post references CBC News coverage of an upcoming drag event in Dryden, which was then cancelled following an unfounded prank call. Sharing screenshots of the news story, Webster called the drag queens involved in the event "groomers." In the December 2022 post, Webster referenced an upcoming drag storytime event in Thunder Bay and referred to "local drag queens who have been criminally charged with child pornography." No such charges were laid. In her decision, Pierce describes Webster's behaviour as that of a "common bully." "There is a pattern of homophobic/transphobic conduct by the defendant's publication, both before and after the offending posts," Pierce said in court documents obtained by CBC News. The plaintiffs include the organization Rainbow Alliance Dryden and drag performers Caitlin Hartlen, Felicia Crichton and John-Marcel Forget. They were represented by Douglas Judson and Peter Howie of Judson Howie LLP in Fort Frances. "My first reaction was tears. I just cried a whole bunch," said Forget, who has been performing drag for more than 20 years as Lady Fantasia LaPremiere, of the court's decision. "Just knowing that we were doing something that could potentially make it easier for other people to stand up for themselves and to maybe make it so that people would think twice before posting untruths about people that they don't like — especially people that they don't even know." Fighting against rhetoric, discrimination The Facebook posts were not the only attacks on drag storytime events in the region; two separate bomb threats were made against the Thunder Bay Public Library last year ahead of Storytime with Thunder Bay Drag Queens. "I just always thought 'if you don't like storytime with drag queens, don't come to storytime with drag queens,'" Forget said. "I'm not a huge fan of sports and hockey, but you don't see me bashing people who are interested in that; I just don't go to hockey games." Judson, who is one of the directors of Borderland Pride, called the court's judgment a "landmark decision." "I think it's coming at a really important time for the 2SLGBTQAA+ community, which is very much under political assault from the right, right now in Canada and in the United States," Judson said. "I think that it's a good reminder that we have legal tools, especially here in Canada, to protect vulnerable minorities." While "groomer rhetoric" has a long history as a slur targeting 2SLGBTQAA+ people, Judson said, "the false allegation that people are engaging in sexual impropriety or are pedophiles, it is patently defamatory." His hope is that the judgment sends a message to people in northwestern Ontario that they can be held accountable for their actions on social media, even if they post anonymously. WATCH | Lady Fantasia looks back on 20 year-dragiversary Lady Fantasia looks back on 20 year-dragiversary 11 months ago Duration 7:49 Forget has been the target of bullying for much of his life, and said going through the court process triggered a lot of heavy emotions. "Just constantly having to defend my existence, it kind of started to wear on my mental health a little bit," he said. "Standing up for yourself is never really easy, but it's always worth it." He said he wants others in the 2SLGBTQAA+ community to know they're not alone. "There are people out there who are fighting for your right to just live the way you want to live and love the way you want to love."
