America’s Next Drag Superstar did not get the best reception across the pond.
On Thursday night, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10 winner Aquaria judged a Porn Idol contest at a London gay bar called Heaven. The contest was a striptease competition with a prize of £500. According to Gay Times, Aquaria chose a friend, Love Bailey, to compete for the prize, which caused people in the crowd to boo both Aquaria and Bailey.
“Don’t fucking play this,” Aquaria tweeted along with video of her being booed by the crowd. “I’m not the fucking one and the fact that y’all probably treat performers like this all over the world is fucking disgusting. This is why girls loathe doing their jobs sometimes. Respect yourself and respect others.”
Don’t fucking play this. I’m not the fucking one and the fact that y’all probably treat performers like this all over the world is fucking disgusting. This is why girls loathe doing their jobs sometimes. Respect yourself and respect others. pic.twitter.com/NlZW54Y7dr
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
Aquaria also defended her choice to bring Bailey, who is trans, to the stage in a series of tweets.
Listen… I didn’t “ch0osE mY fRi3nD so ShE c0ULd SteAL £500”… I literally just wanted to showcase my friend’s fun crazy dancing self for the crowd to enjoy and give a little tease at the same time. I didn’t mean to come up into the club to ruin the sanctity of Porn Idol and
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
I’m certainly not unappreciative to the fans who came to see me, as I always am at ANY club or event and you can CHECK THAT. However, people painting me to be an entitled undeserving brat is truly insane considering how easy I am to work with and excited I am to do my job always.
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
In America it is the most embarrassing thing to be booed off a stage as a performer and im pretty sure this concept reaches other areas of the globe so understand that my reaction to being harassed is beyond warranted and was classy and calm. I’m not one to put up with disrespect
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
And for that, I react the way I do. I do not need to be told about how I should validly react by people who are not me or understand anything that is going on but for those who do see how the situation got beyond out of hand, I appreciate your understanding of my position.
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
It’s always been a pleasure to tour in the UK and London is one of my favorite cities in the world that I’ve visited. I’m very disappointed with how last night ended but am truly excited to meet everyone at my show this Saturday evening. Hopefully we can maintain a better vibe.
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
Aquaria added in a subsequent tweet that she invited Bailey on stage to showcase a trans woman’s talent.
“One of my beautiful trans friends had the bravery to offer an entertaining show for the (many, clearly) undeserving audience members at the club because they’re too busy making fun of the lads and demeaning the women brave/boozed enough to perform for them,” Aquaria wrote.
One of my beautiful trans friends had the bravery to offer an entertaining show for the (many, clearly) undeserving audience members at the club because theyre too busy making fun of the lads and demeaning the women brave/boozed enough to perform for them.
— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) July 20, 2018
However, at least one person in the audience tweeted that Bailey’s trans status was not a part of the problem. Rather, the person claimed, the audience was upset at the perceived nepotism on display.
Porn idol, when the girl picks someone up to come on stage she chose a friend of hers instead of being fair in the audience. 500 quid was on offer. People boo’d at the nepotism and then aquaria walked off stage
— James Higgins (@JSHiggins_) July 20, 2018
Aquaria has been vocal on Twitter ever since her Drag Race triumph. Earlier in July, she called out singer Bebe Rexha when Rexha tried to insinuate that some of the Drag Race queens were rude to her backstage at the VH1 Trailblazer Honors.
Header image via Getty
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