After staying largely quiet on social media in recent months, drag queen Tyra Sanchez has posted a lengthy apology and explanation of her sometimes hot-tempered past behavior.
As all RuPaul’s Drag Race fans know, Sanchez (real name James William Ross IV) won the second season of the show back in 2010. She scooped $25,000 and plenty of bookings to appear all over the country. However, she’s been embroiled in several controversies since.
This included a spat with Morgan McMichaels after the latter said she refused to perform on the same bill as Sanchez.
Sanchez has also lashed out at fellow queens Raja, Phi Phi O’Hara, and Tatianna. The latter dispute escalated last year.
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Back in late 2017, Sanchez appeared to threaten O’Hara and Tatianna in a video posting, saying: “‘When you see Ms. Phi Phi and Ms. Mother Fucking Tati’s ass stretched out on the motherfucking ground, you will know it was me. Yeah, I may not have physically did it, but it will be my doing. Remember that shit, bitch.”
O’Hara then complained to organizers of DragCon 2018 in Los Angeles that they should not host a drag queen who condones violence against others. Sanchez then warned her followers not to attend DragCon with a cryptic message stating: “Fair warning: DO NOT attend RuPaul’s DragCon on May 12, 2018. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Related: Tyra Sanchez posts cryptic threat against RuPaul’s DragCon and fans are NOT having it
That was enough to ensure DragCon banned Sanchez from appearing, despite her protestations that she did not intend her statement to be taken as any sort of threat.
Since that time, Sanchez, 31, has kept her social media postings to a minimum. Last night, she posted a long message to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, with an accompanying message saying: “Because I owe this to each of you.”
Because I owe this to each of you. pic.twitter.com/uMfjQO8a5W
— Tyra Sanchez (@KingTyraSanchez) October 8, 2019
“Please excuse my absence.
“Really needing the escape, last year I disappeared from the grid. The calmness of my introverted personality and the level of public recognition I received over the years has been a lot for me. I couldn’t quite grasp how to balance everything. The judgment, criticism and opinions I received daily really affected my vibes and it began to control my environment.
“I was on an extreme roller coaster of emotions. So many ups and too many downs. Exhausted, I was just ready to get off the ride. Last year I finally did just that. Exit the ride.
She goes on to say she dedicated time to finding her true, authentic self and do some “serious soul searching.”
“I learned that for years I’ve been unknowingly beating myself up. Never believing I was good enough, I looked for acceptance in the wrong places and accepted undeserving treatment … I allowed the negativity to consume me. Bottling it inside and smiling through tears I became rebellious; thought it empowered me.”
She admits that “many times I expressed myself without thinking things through. I reacted out of fear and with anger … I had taken the term ‘Don’t come for me!’ to a whole new level. I responded and expressed myself in ways that were misunderstood and offensive to some. I was angry, hurt and lost.
“To each of you reading this I humbly apologize for the online behavior I have displayed in recent years. Though it represents emotions I may have felt, it does not represent my true character. I have failed you and I know I am much better than that.”
Related: ‘Drag Race’ winner Tyra Sanchez blasts ‘psychotic,’ racist fans
Sanchez goes on to say she has been analyzing her strengths and focussing on the positive.
“I know right from wrong and I for damn sure know the online behavior I displayed in recent years ain’t how my momma raised me!
“No more fighting wars with hearts and anger, instead I decided to lead by example with dignity, honesty and integrity. I am here to encourage others and to stand together in love.”
She goes on to acknowledge there are individuals to whom she owes a personal apology, and says she has reached out to people privately.
“I am working hard to correct my wrongs and moving forward on my journey to greatness.”
She concludes by saying: “I understand second chances are rarely given, but I’m asking for a second chance with you. Please excuse my absence and understand why I needed the time to grow and mature. Please forgive me for my online actions prior to this letter and continue to pray for me as I enter into the next chapter of my life.
“Allow me to be the king you were rooting for me to be.”
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aaronarnwine
That wasn’t an apology at all. She blamed her behavior on everything else but her being a mean nasty person.
Cam
Really? I took it to be kind of self reflective and it seemed like she said she knew her behavior was terrible. You could be right and this is avoidance to up her bookings, but I hope this is her growing up and all works out for her.
ShiningSex
In all fairness, Phi Phi is also a POS
Bob LaBlah
Not only do I think it a mistake to give her a second chance I wonder how many of you realize that this is a perfect example why employers have second and third thoughts about hiring the trans girl with needed JOB skills that an employer offering a job that pays a living wage needs. When you are on a job regardless of its nature tension tends to rise, especially when there are deadlines to meet and profits aren’t what they were last quarter. The first thing that happens in the mind of your male supervisor when you raise you voice is the sex you were born with. In this case she couldn’t even get along in a civilized manner with her own kind. Threatening to knock some one out? Sprawled out on the ground? And NOW that the phone has stopped ringing and people have stopped reading her tweets in the numbers they once did she decides it might be best she make a half hearted apology and the gay media picks it up? Maybe now is the time for us to show that just as we condemn violence from strait people against gays we sure as hell aren’t going to condone it amongst ourselves. Her dress and her actions are clearly promoting a “fierce” persona that needs to be ejected. I’m sure there are plenty of you who emulate that persona and are coming to her defense but I think she should be banned and labeled the frustrated has been that she and she alone put her self in. How long do you think it will be before she physically attacks a paying audience member? Does anyone remember the meltdown of the now long since forgotten Flotilla de Barge in NYC over ten years ago? This all sounds familiar and every one of those clubs were right in banning Flo no matter how great a singer she really was. A second chance from some people only gives them strength to do it again as ol’ Flo proved. Adios queen. You had you chance and blew it BIG TIME.
Brian
She a drag queen, not trans. I seriously doubt that anyone who wouldn’t hire a trans person has any idea who she is out what her anger issues are.
Bob LaBlah
At least YOU feel thats a fact that needed to be brought into the equation. Now that we’re on the subject of ol’ washed up long since forgotten drag queens tell us about a few of the gigs you’ve lost being nothing else but yourself. I bet you have none to tell about because it takes talent to be a drag performer people would actually pay to see and a good drag performer would not be using the pic of a long since dead one.
Roan
Translation: I need work. I totes promise that I won’t be a hot mess nut bag psycho. Again.
Brian
Yep.
Cam
LOL! It was the “Totes” that killed me on this one.
Bytemenow
2nd translation: I miss my coins. Please hire me. I promise I’ll stop acting a damn fool.
toddlicious
I’m shocked when these queens are surprised that the social aspect, recognition and attention from winning this completion is going to be hard. Buck up lil camper, you signed up for this. She was an undeserving winner anyway… bye Felicia.
Cam
Also, lets be honest, Ru pushed Tyra through, Raven or JuJu Bee were the crowd favs that season and I don’t think Tyra was equipped to deal with that backlash, this was after the 1st season where people thought Rebecca had been unfairly pushed into the finals and that Bebe should have won. So it wasn’t a pretty scene after Season 2.
jw8890
She didn’t deserve to win I mean that one challenge where she was sleeping while her team was working or just standing there while they were learning the choreography. Btw BeBe did win although Ongina should’ve been in the finals instead of Rebecca.
Cam
Sorry @jw8890 That was a mistype. I meant that many thought Bebe shouldn’t have won season 1.
ShiningSex
Once you’ve f*cked up, it’s hard to come back from that. That being said, I never liked her, but Phi Phi’s behavior and attitude is the worst I’ve seen from a drag performer EVER!!! She’s vile.
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Patsy Stoned 75
It’s not like she threatened to blow up DragCon or something.
LostMyClothesAgain
Ed Buck, meet Tyra Sanchez. Tyra Sanchez, meet Ed Buck.
troybouy
Why is it so hard t
troybouy
Why is it so hard to accept the apology of someone you don’t know. People make mistakes when emotions take over