Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race have taken to social media after a heated exchange on this week's reunion episode lead to politically active drag queen The Vixen walking offstage.
The Chicago-based drag queen, who hosts a local drag show titled 'Black Girl Magic', has built a reputation for bringing a serious conversation about race to mainstream reality television - and this week was no exception, with the show's cast reflecting on the season's most notable clashes, some of which she was at the center of.
“Everybody’s telling me how I should react, but nobody’s telling [Eureka] how to act!” The Vixen said, referring to a number of conflicts initiated by finalist Eureka O'Hara throughout the competition.
She continued: “I came here to thank my fans for all of the love and support that they gave me, for all of the wonderful people who relate to me, understand me and appreciate me.”
Standing up to leave the set, she added: “Now that I’ve done that, y’all can have a good night”.
The dramatic moment was rivaled only by that which immediately followed, when finalist Asia O'Hara stood up to the show's creator RuPaul regarding his treatment of The Vixen.
“Here we are filming during Pride season," Asia, who some fans are now calling the 'queen of empathy', said through tears - "and we let one of our sister walk out the fucking room because nobody wants to fucking help her.”
But RuPaul wasn't having a bar of it.
“Look at me, I come from the same goddamn place she comes from,” RuPaul yelled in response.
“Do you see me walking out?”
Plenty of other stuff happened too.
The 'Miss Vanjie' viral phenomenon was suitably addressed, Kameron Michaels was accused of being very secretly unfriendly, Miz Cracker defended herself against Asia's comments regarding her lack of "star quality" - and Aquaria dedicated an entire outfit to Monique Heart's memorable quote about "stunning" brown cows.
However, if comments on social media are to be believed, the episode left a sour taste in the mouths of some viewers.
RuPaul, who started the groundbreaking reality program in 2009, has already this year for insinuating that openly transgender contestants would not be welcome to participate in future seasons of the show. While she later retracted her comments and apologised to the community, some are questioning whether or not the trailblazing queen is still "in touch" with those she has championed for so long.
The finale of RuPaul's Drag Race season 10 screens on Stan next Friday, June 29th.
