I just want to let everyone know how sad and heartbroken I am by the way my lip sync performance during the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race turned out. Despite months of research and rehearsing with a professional company, what I hoped would be an amazing and safe display of optimism, and a surprise for everyone including production and the network, it did not go as planned. I would like to publicly offer the entire world my deepest apology. It’s important that everyone knows that I would never purposely hurt any living being and have the utmost respect for all animals. If you are unhappy with me, I understand. I have been unhappy with myself since that night but I’m going to do my best to make it right. Over the next year, my friends and I will be donating over 100 volunteer hours to the ASPCA, an organization that has been dedicated to the fair treatment of animals since 1866. I can’t apologize enough for what happened. I want my fans and the world to know that I’ll continue to be humble, own my mistakes, and lead with love and light.” — Asia O’Hara responding on Instagram to criticism of animal cruelty after a reveal involving live butterflies did not go as planned
Discover more
tham
It’s NOT animal cruelty…I mean it’s just NOT.
It’s insect cruelty. And as a youth, I was guilty of it too…I really hated ants…I still do.
I’m an anti-antite. No really ask any “high” minded Millennial…it’s a thing.
Crystix
i.e. “Fuck butterflies, right? Stomp their little guts out if it means winning a $100,000”
Funny how non-millennials care so little about life and hate on people for being compassionate to all god’s creatures.
And P.S. Insects are in the Animal kingdom, Anthropodom phylum, and Insecta class. So they are in fact animals. But fuck my drag right? I mean fuck my butterflies, right?
Roan
Butterfly Lives Matter.
Xzamilloh
They live for a few weeks mating and then they die. These are ppl probably on their phones eating pot stickers, hamburgers, hot dogs and big ole Chipotle burritos talking about “animal cruelty.” That lip sync was fail all around, but I’m not losing sleep over some butterflies.
BikeHulk
Any reduction in harm toward living creatures is a positive thing. Maybe you’re right and they’re hypocrites — but I’ll take increased sensitivity any day as a step in the right direction.
QueerTruth
I’m with BikeHulk.
Roan
Bike for the WIN. Shante, he stays.
Crystix
We’re talking about KILLING animals for ENTERTAINMENT, not food. Get some perspective.
Xzamilloh
That’s nice…. I just do not care about some butterflies and won’t pretend to to make some internet people happy.
Curtispsf
And Xzamilloh, nobody will lose any sleep over your death, either. You don’t get it, do you? She used beautiful living creatures condemning them to die in a recording studio afterwards. Shame on you.
alterego1980
In a world where it seems like no one owns up to their shortcomings anymore, I respect Asia a million times more than most.
DarkZephyr
I love Asia and I was heartbroken for her when what I could tell she was trying to do failed. That was brutal. But I know that she meant no harm and people need to get over it.
SeattleSheikah
I respect her owning up to what she did, and her assertion to dedicate time an anti animal cruelty foundation. However, no living creature should be forced into the position, that Asia put those butterflies in. I work with animals for a living, and am a very strong animal rights activist. Using those butterflies, should never have even crossed Asia’s mind, I don’t care what “professionals” she worked with. I respect her owning up to it, but I don’t forgive it.
not a clone
the production was cringeworthy…she had nothing else up her sleeve
khan72
Every single one of those people who are complaining about animal cruelty has sprayed insecticide at some stage in their life
Crystix
The issue here is KILLING animals to entertain. Even had the gimmick worked, those butterflies were never going to make it outside and would die of starvation in that theatre. That is CRUELTY. People comparing it to eating meat or spraying insecticide are missing the point – neither of those are for ENTERTAINMENT. And if you’re spraying insecticide as entertainment, maybe you should lock yourself in an airtight closet and spray the nasty critter in there.
I respect Asia for standing up and committing herself to a cause in order to correct a horrible lapse in judgement. We would all live in a better world if we admitted our mistakes and took action to give back to those we hurt, even symbolically – instead of just making excuses and discounting cruelty as human nature and to “get over it”
Curtispsf
Thank you for such an eloquent post. You said all that needed to be said.
oz1967
I think separating children from their parents is more of an act of cruelty to be outraged by, but hey what do I know.
nitejonboy
I hope in her next life she comes back as a cockroach.
prarie pup
Anybody who is upset about Asia’s use of butterflies is a lucky person; if THAT is the big issue in your life, I’d gladly swap mine for yours.
ShowMeGuy
I wish butterfly abuse and exploitation was the biggest problem in our world.