Yesterday we shared the widely reported news that RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8 queen Robbie Turner (aka Jeremy Baird) had been involved in a horrible drunk driving accident that claimed the life of Turner’s Uber driver.
The official Drag Race Facebook page even shared it:
The information came firsthand from Turner’s Twitter account, which in no uncertain terms says “Last night on my way home my Uber was struck by a drunk driver. I closed my eyes briefly & it happened,” and “My driver did not survive.”
There’s just one problem… It turns out it may not have happened.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We don’t want to jump to conclusions here, but there appears to be something more (or much, much less as it were) to the story.
Seattle Gay Scene followed up with a Seattle Police Department spokesman about the incident who said, “I am not aware of anything like that occurring, nor are any of my colleagues aware of this accident.”
SGS adds: “A representative from UBER has responded back to us to state that they have no information consistent with what is being reported about the alleged death of an UBER driver.”
Over at The Stranger, a post went up Wednesday with the headline: “Wait, Did Robbie Turner Actually Have a Brush with Death in an Uber?”
The Stranger spoke with Uber spokesperson Nathan Hambley by email, who said: “Thanks for reaching out, and really sorry to hear that news. We of course know Robbie and have reached out. We are also looking into the accident, but have no information at this time to believe this occurred on our app. If I find out more today, I’ll be back in touch.”
Later, Hambley said, “We’ve reached out to a number of folks on this, too — including Robbie — and still haven’t heard anything. I’m asking that we reach out to her again. Will let you know what I find out.”
We’ve reached out to Robbie, but seeing as nobody’s heard from her, we won’t hold our breath on that.
We’ll update you when this story inevitably gets even more odd.
Discover more
ChrisK
She probably just imagined it. Too many apple martinis and blow that night.
ChrisK
Probably just a fender bender but leave it up to a drag queen to up the drama.
Patsy Stoned 75
Someone needs some publicity…
Or AA.
BGinBigD
Or drug therapy
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
One of the good burghers here who sensed something was off was getting a lot of grief from silly credulous fanboys—and one in particular— caping for this potentially sociopathic fantasist cynical creep. Lets see if their as quick with the apologies
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
They’re *
Roan
No one knew during the first few comments on the original story that it could be false. The blog ran a story based on Turner’s social media feed…specifically Twitter. You can take it up with the editors for posting an unverified story.
However, this story notwithstanding, a story about a draglebrity involved in a car accident is a legitimate story for QUEERTY, as drag is a legitimate topic for this forum. The problem is with the comments, and yours as well, and that the team of trolls has been allowed to proliferate here and on LGBTQNation and allowed to repeatedly post hate filled screeds about drag and trans people.
Don’t kid yourself, you’re part of the problem. And now you are dismissed.
Daniel-Reader
Roan, don’t worry the Queerty forum admins erase all the comments when you attack people in the comments without thinking first. They erased all the comments when you and others attacked me in the intitial article for simply pointing out right off that this person in the article didn’t mention the deceased drivers name and when I asked if the story had been verified at all. That’s why the number of comments in the first article don’t match the number actually there.
Daniel-Reader
Prince, in case you’re still wondering, they didn’t apologize at all for attacking me for asking a journalism 101 question.
Roan
They can erase whatever comments they want, that only implies the comments don’t fit the new paradigm here, not that the comment was a valid observation. I’ve read your comments here many times, as well the others mentioned in the replies and IMO they’re mostly negative and IMO constantly fighting with people.
I also question why people who seem so triggered by drag news on a LGBTQ website in a section called “dragaholic” would continue to click, read and post and in IMO it’s the result of phobia or for the need and desire to be negative.
CanadianGuy62
Why is he being referred to as she? He’s a drag queen, not a transsexual. Or did I miss that memo on pronouns?
NateOcean
I was about to ask the same question. And giving both names could be perceived as dead-naming. What pronouns do we use for transgender drag-queens?
jd.cali
Drag queens often use both male and female pronouns. It’s not a big deal.
Roan
The rule of thumb is you use male pronouns when they’re out of drag, and female pronouns when they’re in drag (which explains catchphrases like “Gentlemen start your engines, and may the best woman win”). Robbie Turner is Jeremy Baird’s drag name. Of course, you could also just ask the person if you had that opportunity.
LABrad
Roan – There is no “rule of thumb”. That’s the whole point of drag. A lot of non- drag gay men do this too. We’re making a mockery out of gender rules. We have no respect for gender.
We don’t “ask someone their pronouns”.
We object to all gender rules, and we intentionally and apologetically show disrespect for them.
LABrad
unapologetically
Why can’t we edit these?
Roan
LA Brad. Those are your opinions. You do you. I follow the rule of thumb I posted unless I have the chance to directly ask the person. Now that I have the chance, how do you prefer to be addressed?
Crystix
Gender pronouns are a preference. If you don’t have a preference, i.e. comfortable being called by he, she, they, or ze, then should it matter? Stop trying to put your labels on someone else.
Roan
Crystix, if I’m in convo like this one, or with friends, I’ll use she if I don’t use the drag name. There’s nothing wrong with that. If I can I ask or learn what their preference is, I’ll use that. Stop making something out of nothing.
Roan
Well, Castle, that makes you a jerk.
CastleSF
Your personal attack comment will be deleted by Cylest, Roan.
Roan
No worries. The fact you would refuse to use a person’s preferred pronoun when addressing them still makes you a jerk, as well as several other things.
BGinBigD
Sorry, girl!
Cylest Brooks
Won’t CastleSF be surprised to find that it is actually HIS comment that got deleted!
Sorry, but your “rule” about gendering everything according to the way your own brain sees it and refusing room for folks who don’t fit into that “rule”… creates an unsafe environment for our trans readers. You can say whatever you want about gender and identity inside of your head, if you want to be an asshole, but comments invalidating trans and gender non-conforming folks on this forum will be deleted.
Cylest Brooks
Roan, personal attacks against other users violate the Queerty comment policy. Please consider this your warning.
CastleSF
Obviously nobody likes to see his comments deleted but if there is any consolation, I am convinced that there are other commentators on this forum who would side with me on this issue but choose not to voice their views for fear of being ostracized.
Cylest Brooks
CastleSF, I think you’re right. There probably are people who don’t speak up in these comments because they are afraid. Hopefully, by disallowing personal attacks and aggressively steering the conversation in a more positive direction, we can encourage those people to speak up. At the very least, now they know that vitriol directed at them will be deleted.
Roan
Castle, it’s quite clear from being on these forums that plenty of other people share the same transphobia and borderline hate of trans people. It can be called an opinion or a belief or whatever you want. But the question still remains, why would someone with those beliefs want to come here? Aren’t there other forums for people with those beliefs? This is a forum for the LGBTQ community, not for people who want to dehumanize us. The moderator just informed everyone that type of behavior won’t be tolerated.
CastleSF
Why do you think I am transphobic? Unlike many gay men, I am quite open about dating a trans man. If a guy is dressed like a man, even if I know he is born as a woman, I use he or him and vice versa. Why does that make me a phobic?
Roan
I suppose your previous, and now moderator removed comment, gave me that impression. I think it was summarized here as: “gendering everything according to the way your own brain sees it and refusing room for folks who don’t fit into that” but of course, you are free to do you.
Apolodorus
Cylest, I think I’m a bit I love with you. Crack that whip and moderate this place 😀
Geeker
A messy drag queen…shocking.
Crystix
Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing “upping the drama” with your first comment and reply to this one, ChrisK? Seems you like the drama as much as any queen. Just sayin
Crystix
As of this moment the story isn’t confirmed, not false. Again, people are jumping the gun. This was based off a twitter account of a queen who could have been anywhere. My heart goes out to Robbie. But wait for facts before calling someone a mess and calling someone a liar.
Roan
Here’s the the thing. Why are there so many queer phobic, transphobic, drag phobic and when the topic comes up, racist commenters on QUEERTY and LGBTQNation? Why not just go to Breitbart?
CastleSF
The answer is simple. You lump everyone that disagrees with you as “phobic”. You want the world to act in a way that you would approve. You may not be in a place where you can comprehend this irony but it’s so obvious to everyone else but you.
Roan
You live in a world where dehumanizing drag queens and trans people is a personal belief. Here’s a memo for you chump. Standing up against people like you isn’t bigotry. You should be called for it.
I’ve seen your comments. You attack everything queer. Again, you are the problem. You belong on Breitbart with the rest of the gay bashers.
mhoffman953
@Roan
Why should he go to Breitbart when Queerty already makes trans jokes and attacks women in their articles?
For example, look at this: https://www.queerty.com/ann-coulter-suggests-hurricane-harvey-gods-punishment-homosexuals-naturally-20170829
Will you denounce that gif or is that considered okay to you, Roan?
Queerty mocks Ann Coulter’s appearance with that anti-woman gif which mocks trans people. But remember, we’re supposed to use the correct pronoun but the bloggers don’t have to…
Cylest Brooks
For what it’s worth, I have absolutely no control over the content of the articles. Trust that if I did, there would be no disparaging comments about Ann Coulter’s appearance. As vile a woman as she is, there is no reason to focus on looks… there is plenty to hate about her otherwise, and frankly I don’t stand for body shaming regardless of whether I like the person or not.
But again… I have no control over the content of the articles.
Roan
First, after reading my comments, why would you even see the need to post a question asking me if that’s OK? Is it OK to you? So tell me, do you support the trans community and the drag community? I didn’t read the comments on the post you linked, did you object to that gif with a comment? Did you send an email to the bloggers?
However, the comments here weren’t about QUEERTY’s posts, other than the fact checking issue of Turner’s car accident. And yes, unless you are a trans phobic assho*e, you are expected to use appropriate pronouns. I’ve seen these comments and the same people making posts for years. Reading between the lines of these comments, it’s clear that transphobia and dragphobia is the issue, as well as racist when that’s a topic.
We don’t need the corpse of Stephen Hawking here to help us figure that that someone who posts “If I see a person that looks like a man, I use he or him. If this person looks like a woman, it’s a she or her. Under no circumstances will I use “they.” I will not bend my rule just to please a stranger.” is a jerk with issues.
And yeah, I’m going to call that out.
mhoffman953
@Roan
Your response above is the reason I asked the question. You still never answered my question.
Instead, you responded with a laundry list of questions for me and then brushed it aside by saying the comments here aren’t talking about that.
So I’ll wait for you to answer my question
Roan
*Plays Jeopardy Theme Song for mhoffman953*
mhoffman953
@Roan
That’s what I suspected. Selective outrage
Glad we cleared that up
Roan
Trump supporter moving the goal posts and using the selective outrage card. Didn’t see that one coming.
mhoffman953
@Roan
That question must’ve shook you. You’re avoiding it like the flu. Over an hour and still too scared to answer it
Roan
Bless your heart. Donald is tweeting. You better go tell the other boys.
mhoffman953
@Roan
Sounds like your dying to find a distraction. It’s getting sad
Roan
I just heard a ding. Maybe that’s your Hot Pocket.
Cylest Brooks
Don’t make me turn this car around.
Roan
Cylest, you have to do your job, so be it. But I’m not putting up with transphobic assholes who constantly come in here and drop off their garbage. I don’t consider telling a transphobic troll he’s a jerk a personal attack, especially when he’s invoking your name in other threads expecting protection from other people expressing the same thing. I also have no problem with the consequences. For years many of of us have been asking for changes in these forums and on LGBTQNation. Perhaps it’s simply too late.
Cylest Brooks
Roan, trust me. I’m on your side here. But lord help us all if folks think I’m not applying the rules evenly among all commenters.
So while I personally have no issue with what you’re saying, in my role as moderator I have to ask you to adhere to the Comments Policy.
Roan
Point taken. Please excuse my frustration. It was not intended to be insubordination. I respect the work you’ve been doing. Thank you.
Cylest Brooks
Lol, now it just sounds like you’re afraid of me. 🙂
Roan
LOL no. Just appreciative that finally someone listens and gets it. 🙂
jorgecruz
I think Robbie Turner was flashing back to his time on Drag Race and it just seemed like a wreck- because his performances were a wreck on that show.
Paulie P
it should be easy to figure out. was a vehicular death reported? hospital records have him listed? seems pretty easy to figure out.
chris33133
Drag queen claims to be the survivor of an Uber crash in which the driver was killed. But no police report and no video or written news reports can be found anywhere. Only possibilities that I can conclude are that: this must have been one hell of a date gone bad (i.e., queen was speaking metaphorically); or said queen hallucinated all of this in the spirit of Dorothy; and/or said queen has some serious issues with telling the truth.