Drag Race season 16 star Q quits social media after vile fan abuse: ‘Enough is enough’
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In the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the remaining eight queens were challenged to create a “neo-goth” look from scratch. While fan favorites Nymphia Wind and Dawn impressed the judges with their fashion week-ready garments, it was contestant Q who stole the show and took home the win.
Judge Michelle Visage praised Q’s “haute couture” look as a combination of “scary clown meets punk rock meets goth,” while guest judge Kaia Gerber expressed being “so beyond impressed” with it. Even RuPaul herself couldn’t contain her excitement, gushing over the exquisite silhouette, texture, construction, and detailing of Q’s outfit.
However, despite the overwhelming praise from the judges, Q’s win was met with criticism from some Drag Race fans on social media. Some fans questioned whether Q’s look truly fit the goth theme, while others simply weren’t impressed with her victory. Unfortunately, some fans took their disdain to extreme levels, leading Q to deactivate her X/Twitter account following the episode airing.
In response to the online abuse, fellow season 16 queens rallied around Q, condemning the trolls for ruining her moment of triumph. Nymphia Wind took to X/Twitter to express her support for Q and emphasized that sending hate to any of the season 16 queens would not be tolerated.
While Q’s X/Twitter account may be deactivated, she remains active on Instagram. The support from her fellow queens and fans has helped her navigate through this challenging time.
Unfortunately, Q isn’t the only Drag Race star facing online abuse. Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige, known as the “queen of flips,” has also been targeted by fans for surviving a third lip-sync. Despite landing in the bottom two, Mhi’ya delivered a stunning performance to Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary,” sending another contestant home.
The backlash against Mhi’ya prompted her to speak out on X/Twitter, questioning the duration of the hate towards her. Even YouTuber Trisha Paytas weighed in on the situation, advocating for track records to be considered in eliminations rather than just lip-sync performances.
As tensions rise within the Drag Race fandom, it’s crucial to remember that these contestants are real people facing real consequences from online abuse. The toxic behavior exhibited by some fans not only harms the queens but also tarnishes the spirit of the show.
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 continues to air on MTV in the US and WOW Presents Plus internationally. Let’s show our support for the queens and celebrate their talents rather than spreading hate and negativity online.
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