It looks like the network switch RuPaul's Drag Race made from Logo to VH1 paid off. Last week's Season 9 premiere on VH1 brought in nearly 1 million viewers (more than double of Season 8's premiere) making it the most watched Drag Race episode of all time.
But unfortunately, all that success wasn't without some drama.
Talk show host Wendy Williams is set to host Fierce Friday, the Drag Race viewing party that would air right before and during the commercial breaks of every episode of the competition, and considering her long history of transphobic and homophobic comments (including using the phrase "no homo" when giving Pamela Anderson a compliment on her show in 2010), fans and critics aren't too happy about it.
In fact, many people don't believe Williams should be associated with the groundbreaking LGBTQ television show at all. Popular drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2 contestant Detox shared her thoughts in a heated Facebook post yesterday.
"She is NOT an ally. She is transphobic," Detox wrote. "If anything, she is an ENEMY. An enemy profiting off of our community. Fuck. That."
In 2009, drag performing artist Ericka Atoure Aviance wasn't allowed to sit in the audience of The Wendy Williams Show because of the show's strict "no costume policy."
RPDR judge, Michelle Visage, reportedly commented "Yep." on the post.
Drag Race All Stars Season 2 Winner, Alaska Thunderfuck, also had something to say about Williams hosting the show and released this statement to Unicorn Booty.
"Frankly, I think the decision to make Wendy Williams one of the hosts of the weekly spots framing commercial breaks for RuPaul’s Drag Race’s weekly broadcast is tone deaf, untimely and incorrect.
I used to watch Wendy’s “Hot Topics” daily, and some of the things she said during Caitlyn Jenner’s very public transition were beyond questionable.
At that time, much of the nation was learning to navigate trans visibility for the first time and needed guidance and clarity from the media. But instead Wendy repeatedly spouted ignorance and transphobic rhetoric to a daily audience of millions.
I don’t watch her show anymore.
And I certainly don’t think she is the right person to be hosting our community’s flagship television program.
I think it’s good for Drag Race to be moving toward the mainstream. I’m grateful for the move to VH1. I’m glad that one million people watched the first episode of Season 9. Our message is one of love and acceptance and truth and strength and perseverance, and I believe it should reach everyone, near and far.
But I also believe we need to remember who we are. And remember that it is we who built this. We need to be vigilant and respectful when choosing the shepherds into whose hands we’re putting ourselves. We need to be wary of people hitching themselves to the wildly successful Drag Race wagon for monetary gain — especially if they can’t even name the winners of season 1, 2 and 3 in order.
And I’m not the only one who feels this way."
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During a 2015 "Hot Topics" segment on her talk show, Williams discussed a Kardashian photoshoot, saying "It features all the Kardashian women. No, not Caitlyn. Caitlyn still has a member, so that is not a-. I mean until you don’t, aren’t you caught in limbo?” In another episode, Williams questioned Caitlyn's parenting priorities, saying "Bruce has bigger fish to fry than becoming Belinda," and misgendered her repeatedly.
Williams comments make her an unacceptable host for a show associated with RuPaul's Drag Race. Hopefully, we can get her out of there faster than it takes to impeach Trump.
