Top 10 Most Unforgivable RuPaul's Drag Race Moments
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Unforgivable “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Moments. For this list, we’ll be looking at the worst, most indefensible moments to ever come from the “Drag Race” franchise. We’ll be including questionable actions by queens and RuPaul alike. Since outcomes will be discussed, a spoiler alert is now in effect. Which of these instances left a bad taste in your mouth? Let us know in the comments.
#10: Utica Queen’s Roast
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13
In her season, Utica made a dazzling impression with her sickening looks on the runway and endearing oddball energy. But when it came to comedy challenges, the Minnesota queen was clearly riding the struggle bus. After a painfully unfunny showing on the Snatch Game, she bombed yet again during the “Nice Queens Roast” challenge. Not only did her jokes fall flat, but she crossed the thin line between a good old roast and being straight-up mean. Utica’s crude jab at Loni Love in particular came back to bite her when the guest judge heckled her, delivering arguably the funniest line of the set.
#9: The Return of Art Simone
“RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under” Season 1
Throughout the “Drag Race” franchise, multiple queens have been given a second chance after an early exit in a previous season. But this was one return that didn’t sit well with a lot of fans. After her shocking elimination on the second episode, it seemed Art Simone wasn’t quite done making her mark just yet. At least, that’s what RuPaul thought. The renowned Australian queen returned to the competition just two episodes later, because… well… look over there! The move came as an even bigger shock to the other contestants, and to viewers around the world. Many questioned why Art alone was given a second chance, and not the other eliminated queens - Coco Jumbo and Jojo Zaho.
#8: Sister Sister & A’Whora’s Duplicate Looks
“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” Season 2
For their splashing return from the COVID-19 lockdown, the season 2 UK queens were challenged to impress the judges with their best seaside-inspired looks. Both A’Whora and Sister Sister walked down the runway as ketchup-covered fries wrapped in newspapers. Now, while similar looks aren’t exactly a novelty on the main stage, this one was just a little too specific to be a mere coincidence. As the queens untucked in the werkroom, it was revealed that Sister Sister changed her original look during the filming break. She claimed she wasn’t inspired by her co-star’s ensemble, though A’Whora seemed to disagree. Oddly enough, the latter contestant won the next design challenge in a makeup look that echoed Sister Sister’s signature blue circle around a red lip.
#7: Shangela Getting Voted Out by the Jury
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 3
Through the first few episodes of “All Stars” 3, no one had a better track record than Season 6 Miss Congeniality BenDeLaCreme. The moment she shockingly eliminated herself, it became Shangela’s game to lose. And lose it, she did — but not because she underperformed. In one of the most shocking twists of the franchise, RuPaul put the decision of determining the final two into the hands of the eliminated queens. This led to Shangela and BeBe Zahara Benet being voted out of the competition. This outcome caused an uproar in the fandom. But clearly, Shangela didn’t need the crown to show just how much she had grown from being a first-out queen.
#6: The Highly Unprofessional Snatch Game
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 4
The Snatch Game has long been touted as the challenge that separates the fierce competitors from the, well, not-so-fierce ones. It’s no wonder a lot of the fans eagerly look forward to the game show parody. But in the season 4 edition, that enthusiasm was quickly doused by the desperate choices made by some of the queens. Phi Phi O’Hara’s Lady Gaga clearly garnered no applause. Jiggly Caliente’s Snooki was more of a snoozy. And we certainly were not crazy in love with Kenya Michaels as Beyoncé. At some point, everything just seemed to be happening everywhere, all at once. Latrice Royale pretty much summed up everyone’s reaction while watching this.
#5: Joslyn Fox Interviews Georgia Holt & Chaz Bono
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 6
For this season six episode, the queens were tasked with interviewing Georgia Holt and Chaz Bono, the mother and son of legendary singer and actress Cher. While some excelled in the challenge, other queens fell flat on their faces. Joslyn Fox, the adorable “black horse” of the season, unfortunately belonged in the latter category. Things got off to a pretty inappropriate start, but they then built up to one of the cringiest moments in “Drag Race” herstory. Joslyn’s intrusive final question put Holt on the spot, and not in a good way. She and Bono were clearly uncomfortable. The worst part is that Joslyn was confident she had aced the interview.
#4: Asia O’Hara’s Butterflies
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 10
Ever since Sasha Velour’s unforgettable moment at the Season 9 grand finale, reveals have become a common occurrence in the final lip syncs. Most queens now come out decked in bulky ensembles and sky-high wigs, in hopes of pulling off the next gag-worthy transformation. Asia O’Hara’s attempt at this during the Season 10 finale, however, didn’t quite go as planned. Lip syncing against Kameron Michaels to Janet Jackson’s “Nasty,” Asia planned to unleash butterflies from pods attached to her outfit. But when it came time for the grand reveal, the creatures didn’t fly, falling to the floor instead, to the horror of the live audience. The performance was shocking, awkward, and rendered the queen’s chances of winning the crown dead on arrival.
#3: Mimi Imfurst Lifts India Ferrah
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 3
After landing in the bottom two for the fitness workout challenge, season 3 queens Mimi Imfurst and India Ferrah had to fight for their spot in the competition. Now, a “fight” on “Drag Race” means having to deliver a lip sync performance, but it seems someone was thinking a little too literally. Things got off to a pretty normal start, with Mimi Imfurst doing everything right - nailing the words and giving the right emotion. Then, as if possessed by some supernatural drag force, she hoisted India up and over her shoulder. The absolutely shocking moment led to her elimination and also, one of the most iconic quotes of the entire franchise.
#2: Valentina Would Like to Keep It On, Please
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9
Following their poor showing in season 9’s TV pilot team challenge, Valentina and Nina Bo’nina Brown were placed in the bottom two. To remain in the competition, the queens had to deliver a sickening performance of Ariana Grande’s “Greedy.” At first, Valentina kept her mask on, prompting RuPaul to halt the lip sync and demand that it be taken off. The tension in their ensuing exchange was so thick, you’d need shears to cut through it. With the mask now removed, things kicked back into gear, and it became apparent that Valentina didn’t know the words to the song. While that marked the end of her journey on that season, she was able to redeem herself when she returned for “All Stars 4.”
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Aiden Zhane as Patricia Quinn, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 12
Even the Real-Life Quin Was “Disgusted Beyond Belief” by This Snatch Game Portrayal
Choriza May & River Medway Are Eliminated, “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” Season 3
The Double Elimination of Two Fan Favorites Didn’t Win RuPaul a Lot of Fans
Kennedy Davenport's "Death Becomes Her" Runway, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 7
We Still Can’t Figure Out the Concept Behind This Look
Jorgeous Wins the Glamazon Prime Challenge, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 14
This Win Had Us All Screaming ”Riggamorris, Girl, Riggamorris!”
#1: Six-Way Lip Sync
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 11
This will go down as one of the most atrocious decisions ever made on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Early on in the eleventh season, the queens were tasked with creating she-vangelical talk shows to worship a pop diva. In a complete deviation from the norm, all members of the losing team were then made to lip sync for their lives. As a result, A'Keria C. Davenport, Honey Davenport, Plastique Tiara, Ra'Jah O’Hara, Scarlet Envy and Shuga Cain all performed at the same time. With barely enough space to move around, the showing was, unsurprisingly, a hot mess. We have only three words for whomever approved of this decision: stink, stank, stunk.