Inside RuPaul's Drag Race: UK's H&M Controversy
"RuPaul's Drag Race" is no stranger to drama. Occasionally, playful shade can turn into full-blown brawls. Some of the show's most explosive moments have come during tapings of "Untucked," the after-show that gives fans a look backstage after the queens have been critiqued by the judges. With tensions high after hitting the runway, queens can be cruel to one another (via Elite Daily). What you don't get to see on "Drag Race," then, might be how these conflicts resolve outside the show.
Some of the most infamous feuds in "Drag Race" herstory have taken place between Timisha Iman and Kandy Muse on Season 13, MiMi Imfurst versus the entire cast of the first season of "All Stars," and Season 4's Sharon Needles and Phi Phi O'Hara, just to name a few.
The drama doesn't strictly happen between queens. In fact, sometimes RuPaul herself has gotten into it with cast members. RuPaul famously got into it with Pearl during Season 7, which led the queen to never returning to "Drag Race" after making it to the final three during her season (via Screen Rant). However, one of the most infamous battles between RuPaul and a contestant came during one of the show's international series.
RuPaul was not happy a queen wore H&M on the runway
Appearing on "RuPaul's Drag Race" is not an easy task. Just getting cast on the show is a complicated process, nonetheless the challenge of competing on it. According to Backstage, the show's application specifically asks if you make or produce your own costumes. As we found out on the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" — and, well, every season of "Drag Race," international or not — this is a serious aspect of the competition.
After being eliminated during the first episode of Season 2, Joe Black was brought back after the show paused for COVID-19 lockdown measures. When one queen could not return, Black replaced her, and was thrust back into the competition in the middle of a pandemic (via Vice).
The drama between Black and RuPaul went down on the main stage. The issue started with judge Michelle Visage saying Black's runway outfit looked like it could have been purchased at Primark, to which Black cheekily replied that she had gotten it at H&M.
This sent RuPaul into a rage. "That outfit off the rack was a huge disappointment to me," the Supermodel of the World declared. "That's what everyday people do, and you are a star. And this goes to all of you up here: If it is from H&M, you better glitter the f**k out of it, and make it something special. We're looking for Great Britain's next superstar. Don't waste my time. I don't want to see any f*****g H&M."
The criticism was harsh, especially given the circumstances. Black used it to her advantage, though. She raffled off the dress post-"Drag Race."