Jeff Goldblum ‘didn’t understand the assignment’ on Drag Race and ended up accidentally ‘hijacking’ the queens
Drag Race guest judge Jeff Goldblum ‘didn’t understand the assignment’ according to the season 12 queens. (WOW)
Drag Race guest judge Jeff Goldblum “didn’t understand the assignment” when he appeared on the show, according to the season 12 queens, and sent the queens hilariously off-direction.
Goldblum made quite an impression when he guest judged the Drag Race season 12 debate challenge with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Rachel Bloom.
The Jurassic World star ditched the script pretty early on, with the ensuing anarchy giving birth to the line of the season: “Look over there!”
Drag Race season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall, Heidi N Closet, Jackie Cox and Crystal Methyd reflected on the chaos for Entertainment Weekly’s Binge podcast.
“I think we must admire the improv skills of our hosts, who took us in a different direction,” Jackie said.
“There was a little bit of stuff we didn’t know how to answer because they were questions that we were like, A, this wasn’t part of the official debate prep, and B, there were things we knew we couldn’t answer because he was asking us to sing some copyrighted songs.
“I think Jeff Goldblum was just trying to have fun with us!”
Jaida Essence Hall went on to win the season and became the first queen to be crowned virtually. (VH1)
As the season 12 queens burst into laughter, Heidi interjected that Goldblum “hijacked the challenge”.
Jaida disagreed, saying: “I don’t think he tried to sabotage us, he just didn’t understand the assignment!
“Which, then, we also felt like we didn’t understand the assignment, and that’s when I changed my [approach]. I was like, I’ll just do whatever!”
Jackie added: “That’s why Jaida was the winner of this challenge, because Jaida was like, ‘Alright, then I’m going to throw out everything I prepared and I’m just going to say look over there!'”
Jeff Goldblum sparked debate on Islam and homophobia.
Godblum’s Drag Race appearance was also notable for his comments on the mainstage regarding Islam and LGBT+ acceptance, which went on to inspire fierce debate online.
Jackie memorably walked the episode’s “Stars and Stripes” runway in a kaftan and hijab, a tribute to her Iranian Muslim heritage.
During the judges’ comments, Goldblum asked Jackie if there was something in Islam “that is anti-homosexuality and anti-woman”.
“Does that complicate the issue? I’m just raising it and thinking out loud and maybe being stupid,” he said.
Jackie later addressed the topic, telling EW: “There’s a difference between an oppressive religious government or a government that oppresses people in the name of religion versus personal freedom of expression of culture and religion.”
She added: “Perhaps for Jeff and the audience, they hadn’t thought of those things as separate before, or hadn’t thought through that all those complicated feelings can exist at the same time in one person.
“It’s not as simple as, well, I don’t agree with what the Iranian government says, therefore I don’t support any part of my history or culture or what my family does or doesn’t believe.”
