Culture

Shea Coulée shares powerful statement on All Stars 5 as the world prepares to ‘dismantle white supremacy’

Jun 05 2020
Written by Patrick Kelleher

Shea Coulée attends “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9 Finale Taping at Alex Theatre on June 9, 2017 in Glendale, California. (Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)

Drag Race royalty Shea Coulée has said that All Stars 5 is “just what the doctor ordered” as the world prepares to “dismantle white supremacy”.

Shea Coulée, who first competed on season nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race, is one of 10 queens who will compete on All Stars 5.

The season will debut in the United States Friday (May 5), and in the UK and Ireland set to a week later.

In a lengthy statement shared to Twitter, Coulée said she was reluctant to post online about All Stars “in these incredibly sensitive times”, but said she had come to realise that it is exactly what many people need right now.

Shea Coulée thanked the many people of colour who worked behind the scenes on All Stars 5.

The Chicago queen said she wanted to share “successful Black stories” to help create hope for young queer people of colour who need “inspiration and escape”.

“If there was one thing that I wish the fandom truly had the opportunity to see, it would be the AMAZING family/community that World of Wonder built to help create the show,” she wrote.

“Shout out to all of the amazing women (who were majority Black and Brown) talent managers that literally took care of us as if we were their own flesh and blood,” Shea wrote.

The Drag Race star went on to thank the show’s directors, producers, art department, sound technicians, caterers and cast for their work on the season, and specifically thanked the many people of colour who worked behind the scenes.

Shea Couleé, Ongina and Jujubee are all part of the Drag Race All Stars 5 cast. (WOW)

New Drag Race ‘is just what the doctor ordered’, but focus should remain ‘on what’s most important’.

“I say all of this to express that my experience on [All Stars 5] was nothing short of pure MAGIC,” Shea added.

“It challenged me, inspired me, renewed my love of drag in a deep and meaningful way, but most of all it gave me HOPE. Hope that I feel so many of us need right now.”

She continued: “I can’t wait to share this experience with you.

“Our fight for justice isn’t over and our focus should remain on what’s most important. Just remember to make time to heal and feed your soul, and [All Stars 5] from what I heard is just what the doctor ordered.”

She added: “My name is Shea Coulée, and I didn’t come to play.

“I [came] to dismantle white supremacy, defund the police, return power and resources back to the people, uplift and amplify Black voices, and get that crown.”