Detox Says Production Changed Season 5 Lipsync Song to Favor Jinkx Win

It’s been nine years since season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race graced our screens, and now one contestant is opening up about a little behind the scenes drama.

Detox came in fourth that season, getting sent home after a lip sync for your life challenge that pitted her against Jinkx Monsoon with the song “Malambo No. 1” as performed by Yma Sumac.”

Stopping by the Discretion Advised Podcast, Detox took the opportunity to clear up a longstanding rumor about the battle.

“There were rumors that, with your lip sync with Jinkx, that they changed the song at the last minute to do something that was more catered to Jinkx,” said host Marc MacNamara.

“They did,” Detox confirmed.

The queen went on to explain that she already knew she was on thin ice since it was her third time in the bottom, but once the song change was announced, she knew she was all over.

“The original lip sync song was ‘Free Your Mind’ by En Vogue, which I perform all the time. And they changed it to that song that we did, which, from day one, in our holding areas of season five, before you even walk into the work room, somebody was singing that song,” Detox recalled. “And that was Jinkx’s favorite song. So when they changed it, immediately I was like, ‘Oh okay, I’ll just go ahead and pack now. This has been fun. I know what you guys are doing.’”

Jinkx went on to win the season not long after that, but it certainly seems like the judges had already made up their mind by the time Detox was on her way out. There’s always someone, somewhere pulling the strings with reality TV.

At least this gives us a great excuse to revisit the lip sync in question!