Michelle Visage explains why Drag Race criticism is ‘short-sighted’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) Michelle Visage, RuPaul, Gottmik, and Symone, winners of the Outstanding Competition Program award for ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ pose in the press room during the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Michelle Visage has responded to the criticism that there are too many seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, encouraging viewers to be “grateful”.
The beloved reality show has rapidly expanded into a global franchise, with a seemingly never-ending list of international spin-offs prompting some fans to complain of Drag Race “fatigue”.
Responding to the criticism, judge Michelle Visage reminded fans how long queer creators have been fighting to get representation on mainstream television, and argued it was something we should cherish, rather than complain about.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Visage said: “We fought so long and hard to get queer programming on TV, and Drag Race has kind of blazed that trail in many ways. Not the only ways. I’m not taking all the credit, don’t get me wrong.”
The judge labelled the complaints as “short-sighted”, and suggested that people should be “celebratory” and “grateful” for the wide selection of queer television shows now available.
“It won’t be here forever. Nothing’s here forever. So we have to enjoy being celebrated right now, and we should continue.”
For Visage, shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race offer a vital platform for giving opportunities to queer creatives, as she emphasised: “I don’t think there could ever be enough. I think we always have to love and support our queer artists.”
She also wanted to remind viewers that RuPaul’s Drag Race began as “a teeny-tiny show made by queer people, for queer people. There’s no way anybody could have predicted the success”.
Visage also made sure to highlight other television series that were providing opportunities for LGBT+ creatives, such as We’re Here and Drag SOS.
For viewers who felt overwhelmed by the amount of RuPaul’s Drag Race series and spin-offs being produced, she pointed out that, “nobody has all the time to sit down and watch every single TV show that they want to watch. You make time for it”.
