From her on-screen relationship with Eureka O’Hara, to her digital drama with Charlie Hides, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10 contestant The Vixen isn’t afraid to speak up when somebody gets snappy with her. And boy did her outspokenness make for good TV!
Following her elimination from Drag Race last week, Queerty writer Tim Winfred spoke with The Vixen to learn more about her social activism, her celebrity crush, and to talk about the backlash she faced from fans of the show.
Every season of Drag Race needs a good villain, and The Vixen wasn’t afraid to be just that.
Queerty: I really enjoyed being able to be a fly on the wall for the conversation you had with Asia about the frustrations of feeling unheard as an LGBTQ person of color. How did you feel about that conversation watching it back?
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The Vixen: I felt that was a really great conversation. Mostly I was thankful that Asia took the time to talk to me. Getting ready for challenges, especially when we have to do music numbers and sing, we’re very tight on time, so that was really sweet of her to do.
I think the issues were very apparent to both of us. I was aware of things that Asia was saying, which was her point of view. Me and her come from different backgrounds and we handle things differently, so I understood where she was coming from, but it wasn’t my experience.
You definitely didn’t shy away from the drama this season. Have you faced any backlash from the Drag Race fandom because of it?
Oh, absolutely. But it’s not surprising at all because I know that because I’m a very outspoken person of color it was going to have a lot of backlash. That’s what the world does to outspoken people of color. I wasn’t surprised, and I wasn’t phased by it.
Do you have a message of positivity for those people who are sending you hate?
I’m accepting Venmo payments: @thevixenbitch.
You talked about doing a lot of activism drag. What social causes are you most passionate about right now?
I think it’s very important to remember Flint, Michigan – those that do not have clean water. They are not going to have their pipes fixed completely until the year 2020. That is something that people should still be conscious of.
In general, I think that my purpose on Drag Race was to start the conversation of the double-standards that we face as drag queens, especially as people of color, in general. And especially in moments of confrontation. Now that we’ve said it, I think that is going to be something that will be more understood when those types of things happen on the show.
Have you had any memorable experiences when meeting fans of the show?
I’ve had so many! I was in San Francisco and there was a fan who came all the way from Vegas to see me. They brought gifts and they really made a big deal about it. She was a black woman and knowing that I affected her enough that she wanted to see me so much that she drove all that way, and that she identified with me, made me feel really good.
Is there a celebrity you’re crushing on at the moment? And if so, who is it?
I think everyone is thinking about Michael B. Jordan’s abs right now, myself included.
OK, so if Michael B. Jordan were to take you on a date, what would a perfect date with him be comprised of?
Oh, I don’t know… but I hope there are drinks involved, I’ll say that! *Laughs*
What artist or album do you have on repeat right now?
Oh my god, Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer is my go-to right now. And my favorite song on the album has got to be Screwed.
What surprised you the most about your time on RuPaul’s Drag Race?
I think I was most surprised that I actually wasn’t very competitive. I wasn’t interested in making anybody else look like less of a queen in order to get myself ahead.
If anything, what is the biggest thing your time on RuPaul’s Drag Race taught you?
*Laughs* That the struggle is real! *Laughs*
What can fans expect next from you?
Well, I’m putting my money where my mouth is. I will be putting out some political art and some music and performances when the time is right.
OK, well thank you so much for the chat today, I wish you all the best of luck with your plans both in and out of drag.
Thank you, take care.
Welcome to Queerty’s Pride50. We’re celebrating the members from our community who are responsible for some of the most inspiring and extraordinary moments for LGBTQ people over the last year. See all the honorees
babaloo
She walked in wanting to start a fight and she’s upset she got the villian edit. Gurl, please. This is what you wanted.
drmiller
What utter nonsense. Vixen, you didn’t get backlash because you were an outspoken person of color. You recieved backlash because you were unnecessarily unpleasant, vicious, and downright mean and unprofessional at times. If any white queen had pulled the crap you pulled, they would have received the same backlash because you/they are just not a nice person. Do not pull race into this as you grasp for footing ajd a ledge to hold onto. Take responsibility for being a mean spirited, short-tempered, unstable person.
btd
drmiller, I could not agree with you more!
Kieru
Vixen quickly became my favorite contestant on this season. I wasn’t really a fan of her need to antagonize the other queens (seriously, she was upset that Kameron wasn’t showing enough excitement at MAYBE being the winner. Girl… settle down…) but whatever, her performances were solid.
And then she tripped up. It happens to every girl every season. But instead of brushing it off and moving on The Vixen became The Victim. Anyone who agreed her performance was bad wasn’t just criticizing that weeks performance… oh no, they were trying to sabotage her dreams! Belittling her entire career! They were against her!
That was it for me. If you’re going to have this big personality and antagonize all the other girls like you’re the biggest, baddest queen you need the confidence to back that up. One misstep and you devolve into a blame-game? Not interested.
Josh in OR
I wanted to like The Vixen. She was fiery, passionate, idealistic, and interesting, and the issues of race that she brought up in Untucked, episode 2 – re: the very real double standard black contestants and white contestants are held to, the racism that runs deep in not just Drag Race fandom, but the world at large – all were things that have needed to be discussed. Drag, in the form we know it today, began in the balls, after all, and much of what we take for granted about drag culture is BLACK drag culture that has disseminated outward. Many so-called fans of this show have gone too far, too often, with their racist threats, insults and jeers at contestants of color, and to see a contestant openly discussing – and actually being given airtime to do so – it was refreshing as hell, and super timely. And then The Vixen tripped on her own pride and made herself the villain, rather than the agitator for change she WANTED to be, and had the potential to be.
Her hypocrisy with regards to Eureka’s personality, her lack of self awareness and inability to self-crit, her flat out MEAN behavior and blatant bitterness towards certain queens, her general mean-spirited attitude, her spiraling paranoia and persecution complex rivaling poor Nina Bo’nina Brown, and her racist behavior were offputting in the extreme. Yes, I said racist. She made very clear what her thoughts are regarding white people, and while she ()and anyone with a shred of compassion) has every right to be upset (and doesn’t really need my – or anyone else’s – permission), her anger comes across, not as that of a righteous avenger, but as petty and cruel, a bullied child who grows up to become a bully herself.
Overall, she was just another unpleasant distraction from the purpose of the show, and another worrying sign that the show itself has forgotten that it is a platform for performers to get some public attention, not just THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DRAG., PLUS ELIMINATIONS…
In the end, The Vixen’s legacy will be that she had a chance to shine a light on a scuzzy corner of drag fandom, but ended up doing nothing but shoot her very real, very important cause in the foot by adding fuel to the fire of racist fans and the ‘angry black woman’s stereotype.
At least Asia O’Hara and Monet X Change are still around to root for.
Umoja
She was too self-absorbed. If she were wiser she would only think about “how is this going to affect my fanbase?” as they’re the ones who will buy her merch, come to shows, pave the way for international tours etc.
Think global, hunty, not local. Be your best advertisement for your brand
valentino888
She sounds great. We need more like her who actually stand for something…and mean it.
geb1966
“I wasn’t interested in making anybody else look like less of a queen in order to get myself ahead.” Except for Eureka… and we see how well THAT worked out for her. Jealousy is an ugly thing and will bite you in the ass.
Kevan1
Dear Vixen the comment “Oh, absolutely. But it’s not surprising at all because I know that because I’m a very outspoken person of color it was going to have a lot of backlash.”
The person of color bit is BS. I do not care what color you are black, white, pink or purple it was your attitude, chip on your shoulder, insecurity, blaming others for things you were guilty of and immaturity that got you the backlash. You need a little more polishing, to get over yourself and a good come to Jesus talk.
DCguy
Actually I was a big fan of Vixen, especially her calling out the backstabbing Aquaria was doing………so I was for her until the end. She wasn’t being outspoken then, just petty, insecure, and mean. But now nice for her that she can try to paint herself as the victim. Vixen, Bob the Drag Queen is an outspoken person of color and one of the most popular contestants ever on the show Ditto for Bianca Del Rio, Kennedy Davenport, etc…, ….So guess what….that’s not it.
JW
I think it’s sad that she keeps thinking it has anything to do with race. Vixen was simply not as good an entertainer. She was all mouth and no talent. She was good for a behind the scenes fight, but it aint called RuPaul’s Backstage Stunt Fight Show. Its called RuPaul’s Drag Race and Vixen was not better at drag than the other queens. Call it racism or backlash or whatever makes you sleep better, but Vixen just wasn’t as good an entertainer as the other girls. She’ll still get booked a lot because she definitely created a name for herself…which is the real point of the show anyway.
Xzamilloh
I was with The Vixen when she got into with Aquaria, I was with Vixen when she got into with Eureka the first time, but her the episode Monique went home? Nope… she was all the way wrong and the way she acted put a bad taste in my mouth. The audacity to come at Eureka for being “unprofessional” and telling her to work on her personality, all while acting unprofessional the entire time on that stage and then previously saying “This is just how I am, take it or leave it.” Like, girl, really???
But, you can’t lie and say she wasn’t good TV because she was. But there are certain things you see that season on an episode, and you’re like, “Yeah, you’re not gonna win.” Like when Alexis Michelle fixed her mouth to blame the other girls for her coming out in that basic dress and fur coat and not telling her to put on something better? To this day, I’m still mad no one read her for that, except Farrah, kinda.
DCguy
That’s the thing, I was totally with her on the Aquaria thing, loved that she called that out. and the first Eureka thing too. But this last time it was idiotic, but I can forgive somebody having a bad day….but months later, she’s trying to justify it and lying that her race is a factor in the backlash when part of what she did was attack another black contestant….its just sad.
alllowercase
The Vixen’s comments just piss me off! As noted by other comments, there have been many outspoken Drag Race contestants of color who not only did well but were ADORED.
I’ll say again, you weren’t outspoken, you were mean, vindictive, racist, and cruel. You demanded Eureka change the way she was naturally, but expected everyone else to accept you the way you were. Sounds a little two faced to me. You accuse everyone of being racist, and yet you singled out Eureka because of her race and the fact she was doing well. It never occurred to you that she was doing better than you because she performed better than you!
There comes a time when you need to turn the microscope on yourself to determine why you are actually dealing with all the backlash. But wait, you AREN’T actually dealing with it. By your comments, you discredit any criticism as being invalid because it is racist. That is surely convenient but so untrue. GROW UP! Learn to play well with others or at least take the blame when things don’t go your way.
kent25
I LOVE HER!!!!