RuPaul: I wouldn’t have dropped ‘she-mail’ joke
Drag artist RuPaul has spoken out about the decision to remove catch-phrase “You’ve got she-mail” from reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The drag competition reality show last year attracted criticism for a segment in which contestants were asked to guess from a photo whether someone was a ‘female or she-male’.
Following the intervention of Logo TV, the show put an end to the drag star’s catchphrase ‘Ooh, girl, you’ve got she-mail’ – which played near the start of each episode when the contestants received a challenge.
In its place for season seven, RuPaul had a new catchphrase, “She done already done had herses”.
However, the drag star – who has previously vented about being banned from using the word “tranny” – spoke out against the decision.
Speaking to the Guardian, RuPaul said: “I would not have changed it, but that’s their choice.
“Our intention was always coming from a place of love. On paper, you cannot read intention, so it was actually hurtful.
“First of all, drag is dangerous. We are making fun of everything. But when someone doesn’t get the joke or feels offended by it, it’s a lose-lose situation, because you can’t explain a joke.
“It isn’t funny if you explain it.”
Speaking alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage on their podcast recently, RuPaul said: “Did you call me granny girl? That is your new thing, because we can’t say it with a T anymore.”
Michelle Visage said: “We’re just going to say it for everything that’s T-related. I checked the granny in my car.”
The seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race recently concluded in the US, while the fourth season is this week airing on truTV in the UK.
