Culture

RuPaul transforms Pete Davidson’s ‘Chad’ into the next drag superstar in hilarious new Saturday Night Live skit

Feb 09 2020
Written by Emma Powys Maurice

RuPaul transforms Pete Davidson into ‘the future of drag’ (YouTube/SNL)

RuPaul took centre stage on this week’s Saturday Night Live, and it was certainly no drag.

The star made a triumphant debut in a stylish magenta suit as the first drag queen to host the late-night comedy show – and of course he couldn’t resist the chance to turn his hand to the sketches as well.

The hilarious short begins with Ru at a magazine photoshoot, lamenting, “Me, on another cover of Drag Magazine? It’s redundant.

“Where’s the next generation? Drag needs someone new.”

As he casts around for the future face of drag, his eyes are inexplicably drawn to a slack-jawed young protégé – Pete Davidson‘s ‘Chad’, an easily distracted and painfully straight young man whose simple catchphrase is “Okay”.

“That face! Those cheekbones! These eyes!” RuPaul exclaims. “There’s something dynamic about you, boy. Have you ever done drag?”

“Naw, just weed and pills,” he replies.

The actor and former fiancé of Ariana Grande has been playing the recurring character since 2016, but as he dons a pair of chicken cutlets and sky-high heels it looks to be his biggest role yet.

Chad obligingly gets a one-on-one lesson in drag from RuPaul – how to tuck, to beat his face for the gods and lip sync for his life – but runs into some trouble when it’s time to sissy that walk.

When he face plants into a nearby table, RuPaul questions his commitment: “Look, I can mold you into the next RuPaul, and if you want to be the best, you’ve got to be willing to work your padded ass off.

“So I’ll ask you one more time Chad: do you want to be the greatest drag queen in the world?”

Chad… does not. “Some horses were born to run wild,” RuPaul whispers softly as he watches him stagger towards the door.

Watch a behind-the-scenes look at Pete Davidson getting into drag below: