RuPaul took the opportunity to address a Drag Race Down Under queen’s racist past during the most recent episode of the show.
Before the series premiered, several past performance photos of Scarlet Adams circulated online showing the current frontrunner wearing a Native American headdress, a burka, and–most cringey–yellow and blackface. The images came to light after a fellow drag performer, Felicia Foxx, reposted them on social media.
While the contestants prepared for the runway, Adams addressed her past to the other queens.
“I’ve said and done things in drag that I regret a lot, when I was a lot younger and stupid and naive; trying desperately to make people laugh,” she said.
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Related: Two ‘Drag Race’ queens hit with allegations of racism
“I have, in the past, like a lot of other queens, done blackface before, which I really regret. I am disgusted in myself that I did those things.”
Etcetera Etcetera commented that she has a hard time buying a blackface performance is just an “honest mistake,” and Art Simone observed, “It’s strange to appropriate someone’s culture to make a joke of it.”
Adams replied: “I didn’t know any better. Not that that’s an excuse, but it’s hard to unlearn things that are engrained into you as a child.”
Etcetera continued:
“I think casual racism in conversation is very different to painting your face in blackface and performing a number for money. A lot of drag scenes are extremely racist.
“I see drag queens saying, ‘It was just a joke, you need to get over it.’ But, while people of color and trans people are still facing violence every single day, from the systematic oppression that we live in, it isn’t a joke to me.”
Related: RuPaul addresses the issues around transgender inclusion on ‘Drag Race’
Then after the challenge was over, RuPaul asked for Adams to address the judges directly about it.
“I can’t deny that that happened,” Adams said. “As a dumb, ignorant teenager, I made some mistakes that I’m really not proud of and everyday, I regret those decisions. I regret the fact that I used my platform as a performer to ridicule people who have faced systemic racism for hundreds of years and I’m so ashamed of the person I once was. I’m really sorry to you and to everyone that I have hurt.”
RuPaul replied: “Now, I’m sure there are people that would want me to cancel you right here, right now. But, I’d rather this be a lesson in humility and accountability, and I pray that all of us can learn and grow from our mistakes.”
In March, Felicia Foxx shared the photos on Instagram, writing: “It makes me sick to my core to see numerous people in the LGBTQ+ community who are profiting off of making a mockery and disrespecting peoples cultures. My people & our culture is not a joke for anyone, especially privileged dominating cultures to make a mockery out of us!”
Adams made an apology facing social media blowback. She had previously apologized for the drag looks in July 2020.
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“There is no way to sugar-coat it, when I was a teenager roughly 8 years ago I performed in blackface/cultural appropriation. I was young and I was ignorant. I am no longer that person,” Adams said in her Instagram story. “I know I will never understand what it’s like to be a person of color, But I have been hurt before and to think that I made someone else feel that way is an unfathomable feeling.”
Meanwhile, fellow Drag Race Down Under contender Karen from Finance issued an apology for a tattoo of a golliwog doll, a rag doll traditionally used as a caricature of black people. She originally claimed to have gotten the tattoo as a memorial of her golliwog dolls growing up.
Catholicslutbox
At least Scarlet is owning her past.*
Karen was clearly panicking they’d bring up his. Black face tattoo and black face dolls.
*scarlet brought it up to the producers/rupaul
ShiningSex
She’s trash. She’s a nasty queen that needs to go. So sick of her crap
Leash
oh don’t be naive, the producers tell the contestants to say stuff or ask questions in the werkroom.
all this setup was clearly to redeem her so they can get her to finale.
for the same reason they did not adress Karens tattoo. they want her in the finale no matter how mediocre she does because of her name.
But its not like she repeatedly perfomed in blackface in 2012 and more recent years, called someone the n word on stage, perfomed in a chinese outfit with heavy accent and so on… She is just a fan of those problematic dolls since she was 2 and got one tattooed, which she got removed and apologized online.
That being said i think the apology seems sincere, but then again Scarlet already lost a gig to the controversy, so when your career is on the line you say anything. I believe her but only time will tell if she really changed.
Hdtex
Human garbage like you.
LumpyPillows
Hair, clothing, shoes, jewelry, tattoos, makeup- it’s all just stuff. Present how you want. Cultural appropriation is just woke nonsense. Seriously, when they come for black people with blond hair I’ll take this seriously (lol, I really don’t care), until then it is hypocritical woke nonsense – white people trying to value signal they are woke. As far as a drag queen being offensive – that is part job description. I’m more offended by Felicia Foxx and her shady ways.
Cam
Except black people wearing blond hair was never a trope used to attack, mock, insult, and keep a group of people from getting work.
Jay002
There are black people with natural blonde hair.
Rolias81
I can tell you know nothing about black people or black culture. You do know there are natural blonde black people right?
ShiningSex
racism is racism. stop making excuses for stupidity and igorance. Now sit down!
ladron
As if blond(e) hair grows out of most people’s head. If it’s blond and natural – it won’t be for long.
Mr. Stadnick
Stupidest response. You should really think before typing. If you did think I pity you.
Chrisk
Yep but we’ve become too humorless and angry now. Especially with the woke Nazi’s right here on Queerty that will attack you and call you names for having any opinion but theirs.
I had some friends that did the Williams sisters one time for Halloween. Yes they did the blackface including the braids for the realism of it. It wasn’t meant to be racist. Just funny.
How about the Wayans Brothers movie White Chicks doing white face which I thought was hilarious and no one accused them of being racist.
Leash
@Chris funny to you maybe, not so much for black people. White Chicks was one movie, can you come up with more examples of black people doing whiteface?
Ironic that you say people will call you names, simply for having a different opinion! D: yet you started off your comment with calling those people “woke nazis”. If you can’t handle people replying to your comments, simply don’t comment.
Chrisk
Leash
So one is allowed while the other is not. Got it. Thank you for the education on what is racism. I guess I’m just not as woke as you.
I can name off more white face movies and black comedians doing the same (google it yourself) and I always laugh because unlike some here I still have a sense of humor.
Oh and I can handle the Woke Nazi’s. I welcome their hate as a matter of fact. 🙂
Cam
@Chrisk
Because “White Face” was never used to attack and deny an entire race of people jobs.
Cam
If Drag Race is going to pretend concern they may not have let the season play out like it did.
The only black contestants were eliminated 1st and 3rd. Then, the only eliminated white contestant, (Second eliminated) was brought back in with zero explanation.
So the Black Queen eliminated a week later wasn’t brought back, there was no competition to be let back in, no vote, just the second eliminated queen walking back in.
Not a good look if World of Wonder is pretending to give a sh*t.
LumpyPillows
Except, of course, for all the black winners of the show. It’s about talent, not quoatas.
Leash
Ru should have just brought all 3 back and let the contestants decide who of them gets to have another chance, just like he did on drag race UKS2 atfer Joe’s stupid elimination for shock value.
Bringing only Art back without an explanation was indeed weird. She wasn’t even the last girl eliminated, that was Coco. Coco send Art home in the lipsync in Episode 3, yet Art gets to come back?
Cam
@Group 2
Remind me just how many black winners there have been of Drag Race down under………
BoomerMyles
Have to admit some of those outrageous drag numbers ARE funny.
I remember seeing some drag numbers in the past at bars that by today’s standards would be offensive.
The mixed audience back then just laughed…hard.
People back then were more open to humor.
Cam
Or people back then knew that if they complained about it nobody would listen, they would be mocked or worse.
ShiningSex
more open to humor? there’s a difference between being funny about “Stereotypes” and just being racist. blackface is racist and if you don’t see that, then you are tolerant of stupidity. Now bye!
Godabed
Minstrel shows are never funny, especially because they perpetuate racial stereotyping and only reinforce white supremacy. I’m all for white people feeling empowered but historically they tend to use that power to kill or destroy or tear down other people.
We all need allies and equality and equity, but not at the expense of someone else or another group. That’s where the line should be, and sadly we have a long way to go to get there.
BoomerMyles
Humor is subjective.
You can’t tell people what is or isn’t funny.
Of course today’s hyper woke crowd are against laughter in general.
Leash
“Of course today’s hyper woke crowd are against laughter in general.”
oh boo hoo, thats an exaggeration and you know it. Sure back then I’m sure the drunk crowd in the gay bar you were in went wild, but times change and i think for the better.
MissTerri
Oh these Silly Queens!!! Hi-LAR-ious!!!!
Cam
You can always tell when the sad, tired right wing troll is has run out of things to say. It pastes up this same old response desperate to derail the topic.
Awwww, running out of gas precious? It’s ok, I know Putin doesn’t pay you enough to eat well.
ShiningSex
Get rid of that nasty queen. She gets on my nerves. She’s vile
ladron
Will RuPaul fess up about his alleged transphobia? Easy to call out someone else’s racism, but your own mistakes? I think the “Chicken or what?” mini-challenge was apologized for more than any of RuPaul’s perhaps questionable transjokes: “Are you a biological woman or a psychological woman?”
I never see him “walking trans children in nature.”
It’s called a mirror mama – look into it.
DarkZephyr
“Biological Woman or Psychological Woman” has nothing to do with trans people. It comes from Season 2 when Raven was on stage and one of the guest judges, a cis woman, exclaimed that Raven could teach her a few things about being a woman and Raven replied that the guest judge could teach HER a few things about being a woman since she was actually a biological woman while Raven herself was just “a man in a wig”, and then Raven referred to herself as a “psychological woman”. Since you know all about the “chicken or what” mini challenge I am surprised that you didn’t already know this since both events were from the same season. As for Ru being “transphobic” you clearly know absolutely nothing about Ru’s past, where she came from and who some of her earliest mentors were.
valentino888
I’ve never heard of Scarlet Adam’s till today, but she sounds sincere. Her apology is thorough and detailed, and seems to he heartfelt.
amanwithanedge
there’s plenty of racism from black people too. I’ve been subjected to it many times.
Leash
And? Any group of people can experience racial prejudice or discrimination. However, racism refers to that prejudice in addition to the socialized power structures at play. So, not everyone can experience the racism that black people do because the power dynamic that has existed since the Atlantic Slave Trade is just not equivalent to any other racial experience in the States.
Cam
Translation: The troll account is desperately trying to deflect the topic.
Charlie in Charge
Not to go digging for receipts but I very clearly remember RuPaul saying he didn’t find Shirley Q Liquor’s blackface drag show to be racist. But hey times change and we should change with them if we can.
Jessie Nice
There was absolutely no need to address such actions on the show besides for ratings and drama. Why hasn’t anyone called out the old retired show girl RuPaul for his transphobic and problematic issues on tv also!? Racism is part of what being a human is. Literally everyone is a racist, it’s just that others are more keen on telling everyone they are one vs the majority that like to hide and lie behind a screen
Cam
Sounds more like you and everybody YOU know are rac-ist if you think EVERYBODY is.
As for addressing it on the show. That’s easy, the show was already filming when the sandal broke.
Sqwoah
Let’s not forget these are men dressing up as women for humor and entertainment. I have some friends who are women who can’t stand drag race because they feel women are being turned into cartoon characters on that show.
Either you care about everybody’s feelings or you live and let live. But you can’t have it both ways.
SPEEDOSWIMMER
Amazon sucks!
southernway
Don’t watch it then- take your money elsewhere-RuPaul won’t care and neither do most people- it’s addressed and dealt with as she sees fit – again it’s her show and so don’t watch not that hard of a decision to make.
hansniemeijer
Making fun of other people is never right. trans, black, gay, native American, left handed, Aboriginal, old, vegetarian: just a few kinds of people to be careful with. Addressing bad behaviour before appearing in Drag Race is enough. Bad behaviour during Drag Race means disqualification (not elimination)
Prax07
Blah, Blah, Blah. People have absolutely no sense of humor anymore.
And stereotypes are there for a reason. Guess what, jokes about LaQueefa and Shaquan being thugs that shoplift from gas stations and then get shot outside of it by a drive-by gang while eating fried chicken and drinking grape soda are crap black people actually do. So get over it.
Cam
Let me guess, you’re somebody who gets REALLY angry you aren’t supposed to use the N word.
Prax07
You know exactly why black people are denied jobs, and it’s not because they’re doing employee of the month level work there either.
Leash
Work ethic has nothing to do with your skin color. Hey queerty, can we get rid of this racist *sshole please?
Centrism
Rupaul did this to try and model to the kids what a productive conversation and sincere apology look like and that ‘cancelling’ people is not always the answer to every slight. Apparently, a lot of people missed the point.
mudgeguy
this…
Leash
I’m sorry but the reason youre giving is too benevolent for me. I think he did it mostly for himself as he sees himself often times on the receiving end of people …expressing dissatisfaction about his choices. And because he wanted to avoid people giving him shit for keeping Scarlet around.
That being said, I think people got the point and I 100% agree that if people really are sorry there needs to be a way to rehabilitate from past mistakes. But you also have to give people a minute to trust again, because those apologies are made under pressure. Did she really change? Or just says what she has to? I believe her but only time will tell.