An alum of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has been broadly lambasted for crude feedback on the sudden and tragic passing of the first-ever winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” The Vivienne.
Former contestant James Ross, who appeared on the American sequence’ second season as Tyra Sanchez, reignited a beef with the late queer entertainer 5 years after a previous social media interplay – and simply hours after The Vivienne’s dying was introduced publicly.
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Ross Goes After The Vivienne 5 Years After A Lighthearted Social Media Publish
As followers mourned the lack of The Vivienne, born James Lee Williams, Ross used the second to reply to a July 27, 2020, submit on X (previously Twitter) from the late drag performer.
“Wager Tyra was fuming when she realized Netflix spoiled the win, too,” wrote The Vivienne, noting the streaming app’s prior rollout of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” throughout its early seasons (episodes would debut on Netflix one week after their BBC Three airing).
“Sorry, gal,” they added, “you tried, although.”
Ross would then repost The Vivienne’s remark early Sunday night with a darkish response on their very own.
“But it doesn’t examine to the fumes of the crematorium.”
After a flurry of different deplorable feedback, Ross would double down on their negativity.
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“She’s lifeless. Rotting,” he continued. “Sending me all of the hate on the planet will not deliver her again. However do as you will need to. Due to you [all], the tweet has reached over 25k people. Thanks for the much-needed consideration that I oh so desperately wanted.”
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Followers And Fellow ‘Drag Race’ Stars Defend The Vivienne After Ross’ Impolite Remark
Nearly instantly after they have been posted, Ross’ phrases have been met with a barrage of criticism from The Vivienne’s fanbase and different “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars.
“You’re disgusting,” one social media consumer wrote, per Daily Mail. “Disgrace on you.”
Fellow Season 2 contender Tatianna, who later competed on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars” Season 2, would seemingly respond to Ross’ rudeness with out tagging them, although the intention remained clear.
“In some way, she’s turn out to be even worse,” Tatianna shared, linking to their shared time on the sequence.
Nevertheless, Kandy Muse, a fan-favorite of Season 13 and a current participant on E!’s “Home of Villains,” took direct goal at Ross by promising to retaliate on The Vivienne’s behalf bodily.
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“I’ve defended you for years,” Muse fired at Ross, “however now you may completely go f-ck your self. [If] our [paths] have been to ever cross, it is completely on sight.”
“It is not a menace,” Muse added, “it is a promise, you disgusting individual.”
To which, Ross responded, “Menace obtained. Put together your funeral.”
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Each Ross And The Vivienne Had been ‘Drag Race’ Winners, However Their Paths Tremendously Diverge
Like The Vivienne, Ross achieved fame by profitable the crown on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2010 as Tyra Sanchez, beating 11 different contenders to turn out to be “America’s Subsequent Drag Celebrity.”
Since then, Ross’ standing as an entertainer has weathered a number of storms, together with controversies and arrests that reportedly led to him being persona non grata by World of Surprise, the manufacturing firm behind “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
In 2019, one yr after posting a countdown on his website that alluded to attainable violence at DragCon 2018 NYC, Ross shared an apology, blaming his actions on “judgment, criticism, and opinions” he obtained throughout and after his run on the favored actuality competitors sequence.
“Many instances, I expressed myself with out considering issues via,” Ross wrote in a prolonged X submit that has since been deleted, per Queerty. “I reacted out of concern and with anger. Neglecting the truth that I used to be improper, I unleashed my anger upon anybody who crossed me.”
He would retire his drag persona in 2020 – the identical yr he posted the non-public variety of Raven, the runner-up of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 2. He has since rebooted the alter ego, albeit solely on OnlyFans.
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RuPaul Pays Tribute To Drag ‘Daughter,’ The Vivienne: ‘A Pretty Human Being’
The outpouring of affection and memorials to The Vivienne proceed to pour in on social media from queer performers out and in of the “Drag Race” world.
“Mama Ru” herself, RuPaul, would honor her late drag daughter with a brief but touching tribute on Instagram early Monday.
Ru shares, “With a damaged coronary heart, I be part of the complete Drag Race universe in mourning the lack of The Vivienne – an extremely gifted queen and a beautiful human being.”
Danny Beard, the winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” Collection 4, would add beneath RuPaul’s submit, “You meant the world to her!”
One other Drag Entertainer Reminds Us All To Be Variety To The LGBTQ+ Group
English drag persona Myra DuBois, who as soon as appeared on “Britain’s Acquired Expertise,” would additionally share phrases on The Vivienne via Instagram, and alleged that regardless of their notoriety, they typically confronted homophobia and different hateful feedback on-line.
“I don’t understand how The Vivienne left us, and I will probably be respecting the [family’s] request for privateness by not looking for out,” DuBois famous, “[but] I do know… she was bombarded with a slew of homophobic abuse.”
“You may’t simply submit how unhappy you might be when LGBTQ+ folks die,” they continued. “I would like you to ask when you’re doing every little thing you may to maintain all LGBTQ+ folks alive.”
Our hearts proceed to exit to The Vivienne’s associates, household, and followers throughout this unhappy time.
