Why Is RuPaul Problematic?

[Bling 31,370]

I'm a HUGE fan of RuPaul and all the iterations of Drag Race, have been for many years. But over time I've heard things here and there that I believe, all add up to the fact that Ru and the show are definitely not what we think they are. 

For starters, many contestants have come forward saying when the cameras are off, Ru barely talks to them and even one quoting Ru with something like, "Nothing you say matters unless those cameras are rolling"

@3:49

Also, Tammi Brown has claimed she feels the show is Blacksploitation and also that the producers encourage the contestants to be specific cliches (angry black queen, weird artsy queen, bitchy fem queen, etc)

So just between us squirrelfriends, what do ya think? What else is problematic about Ru and/or the show? There's a lot I didn't include but just wanted to start a discussion between queens 

*For the record, I love RU and all the shows. This is not an attempt to "cancel RuPaul". I love talking with people and getting their take and viewpoint on things. That's all.*

[Dojo 19,365]

[RenegAde 19,127]

3 minutes ago, WheresMy911Alice said:

For starters, many contestants have come forward saying when the cameras are off, Ru barely talks to them and even one quoting Ru with something like, "Nothing you say matters unless those cameras are rolling"

What were they expecting?, it's a reality show, it's a job 

[Bling 31,370]

3 minutes ago, RenegAde said:

What were they expecting?, it's a reality show, it's a job 

True, but Ru has created this persona (as Pearl reiterates in the video) of "Call Me Mother" and "I love you and we are your family" etc and it seems to be very different from the reality of the situation.

And beyond that, there's explicit racism and cultural appropriation especially in the earlier seasons of the show. Obviously we are in a different place now than those years, but I only listed a few of the topics that have been widely discussed online that bring up a lot of interesting points. 

[nightadieu 4,531]

not defending Ru in any way but it’s delusional to think the production is anything like the final show. that’s just how the entertainment industry works 

[MessyTop 14,389]

Ru is not problematic at all. He’s done more for the LGBTQ+ community than most gay icons. 
He gives queens a world wide platform to thrive and perform and make money. 

DragRace have had 100s or queens, not all of them are gonna love RU.

The majority loves and supports Ru. Pearl is just trying to stay relevant  

Reality shows are all the same , you think Paula Abul had coffee and kikied with the American Idol contestants? Of course not. 
my advice is, focus on truly problematic celebrities, J.K Rowling, Kevin Hart. Folk that comment so much hate  against our community. 
If you have a problem with Ru, simply don’t watch the show.

[LateToCult 40,896]

Not you just finding all this out. The gays have known for years now and collectively moved on. 

[Bling 31,370]

2 minutes ago, nightadieu said:

not defending Ru in any way but it’s delusional to think the production is anything like the final show. that’s just how the entertainment industry works 

 

2 minutes ago, MessyTop said:

Ru is not problematic at all. He’s done more for the LGBTQ+ community than most gay icons. 
He gives queens a world wide platform to thrive and perform and make money. 

DragRace have had 100s or queens, not all of them are gonna love RU.

The majority loves and supports Ru. Pearl is just trying to stay relevant  

Reality shows are all the same , you think Paula Abul had coffee and kikied with the American Idol contestants? Of course not. 
my advice is, focus on truly problematic celebrities, J.K Rowling, Kevin Hart. Folk that comment so much hate  against our community. 

Lord y'all, I'm trying to have an intellectual conversation with criticisms of the show for conversation. Acting like "what do they expect" and "nothing to see here" is dismissing so many peoples experience.

I'm not trying to "cancel RuPaul", I'm just trying to have a conversation, Jesus 

[ARTPOP 3,095]

She is a fracking queen, so that is already too problematic for me

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/mar/21/rupaul-fracking-wyoming-ranch-land-oil

Did RuPaul just announce he has a fracking empire on his ranch? | RuPaul | The Guardian

[Bling 31,370]

1 minute ago, LateToCult said:

Not you just finding all this out. The gays have known for years now and collectively moved on. 

No as I said in the beginning of my post, I've heard things over the years and then the fracking thing yesterday so just trying to start a conversation here. 

Looks like that's impossible

[Cameltoe Chariot 15,153]

My opinion? RuPaul is the blueprint for queer poc success in media, and has launched the careers of hundreds of LGBTQ+ performers with Drag Race. He did it first, and blazed a trail in mainstream media with so much bravery and tenacity.

I view RuPaul the same way I view Madonna - both are older now, both have had money for a long time and might have lost touch with reality in some areas. But without their contributions to pop culture there would be no walkable path for the LGBTQ+ and femme presenting talent we have now.

People need to remember the dirt poor, endlessly charismatic and passionate RuPaul of the 1980s, surviving the AIDS crisis, ruling the clubs and tearing down boundaries left and right. He kicked, screamed and crawled his way to the top, and left the door wide open for his community to follow him.

[LateToCult 40,896]

6 minutes ago, WheresMy911Alice said:

No as I said in the beginning of my post, I've heard things over the years and then the fracking thing yesterday so just trying to start a conversation here. 

Looks like that's impossible

I get what your saying but this topic has already been heavily discussed throughout the years. It’s like bringing a stale pizza to a pot luck and then getting mad that nobody wants a slice. 

[Bling 31,370]

Just now, CameltoeKween said:

My opinion? RuPaul is the blueprint for queer poc success in media, and has launched the careers of hundreds of LGBTQ+ performers with Drag Race. He did it first, and blazed a trail in mainstream media with so much bravery and tenacity.

I view RuPaul the same way I view Madonna - both are older now, both have had money for a long time and might have lost touch with reality in some areas. But without their contributions to pop culture there would be no walkable path for the LGBTQ+ and femme presenting talent we have now.

People need to remember the dirt poor, endlessly charismatic and passionate RuPaul of the 1980s, surviving the AIDS crisis, ruling the clubs and tearing down boundaries left and right. He kicked, screamed and crawled his way to the top, and left the door wide open for his community to follow him.

I think you're right. Once you get to a certain level of fame or success, you lose the ability to really connect with everyday people. 

I do agree that he has done WONDERS for launching so many careers, but there has been some criticism regarding the queens being treated like cattle and cash machines. That their contracts are super limiting and prevent them from pursuing other ventures for a while. Like when one of the producers called Latrice "LaSomething"

I found this Willam interview really interesting.

Juicy bits start at 5:10

 

[Bling 31,370]

1 minute ago, LateToCult said:

I get what your saying but this topic has already been heavily discussed throughout the years. It’s like bringing a stale pizza to a pot luck and then getting mad that nobody wants a slice. 

Got it

[Ceres 3,242]

I thought this was gonna be about the most recent elimination and the mistreatment of foreign queens. Saw a good video today about it. Not just Ru but mostly producers and how they want to portray queens: