*Wendy Williams has worn out her welcome on “Fierce Fridays.”
SASHAY AWAY @WendyWilliams
We don’t need ur hate & ur fake ass ??
— APRILcarrion (@ApriLcarrion) March 28, 2017
The live viewing party for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” features Wendy and comedian Ross Matthews as its hosts, but some of the series’ past contestants are no longer checking for Wendy. Several have accused her of transphobic behavior that’s at odds with the message of the show.
New York drag-performer Stephanie Stone shared a 2009 incident on Facebook that saw “The Wendy Williams Show” threatening to remove Erick Atoure Aviance — another drag and nightlife performer — from the audience if she tried to appear on-camera or draw attention to herself. Williams’ producers later issued an apology, saying that the show had a strict no costumes policy.
“When are folks gonna realize not everyone’s your ‘friend of the community,’ Stone wrote.
Detox, who was a contestant on Season 5 and “All-Stars” Season 2, reposted Stone’s statement on Instagram and noted that Williams was “transphobic” and “NOT an ally.”
Alaska, another Season 5 contestant and winner of “All-Stars” Season 2, responded in a statement issued to Unicorn Booty, an LGBTQ blog, echoing Detox’s feelings.
“Frankly, I think the decision to make Wendy Williams one of the hosts of the weekly spots framing commercial breaks for ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’s’ weekly broadcast is tone deaf, untimely and incorrect,” Alaska wrote.
Alaska then refers to comments Williams made during Caitlyn Jenner’s transition, in which the host insinuated that Jenner couldn’t be a woman because she “still has a member.”
Alaska continued:
“I think it’s good for ‘Drag Race’ to be moving toward the mainstream. I’m grateful for the move to VH1. I’m glad that one million people watched the first episode of Season 9. Our message is one of love and acceptance and truth and strength and perseverance, and I believe it should reach everyone, near and far.
“But I also believe we need to remember who we are. And remember that it is we who built this. We need to be vigilant and respectful when choosing the shepherds into whose hands we’re putting ourselves. We need to be wary of people hitching themselves to the wildly successful “Drag Race” wagon for monetary gain — especially if they can’t even name the winners of season 1, 2 and 3 in order.
“And I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
