‘Drag Race’ Fans Question Whether Shangela’s Fatsuit Was Comedy or Body Shaming

Safe to say that RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 3 has left a bad taste in a lot of fan’s mouths. (Look no further than our resident Drag Race herstorian Kevin O’Keeffe’s latest weekly recap.) However, while fans have been quibbling about the lack of storylines and overabundance of drama, a different controversy sprang up last night after Trixie Mattel and Shangela both lip synced for their lives.

During the lip sync, Shangela ripped off her muumuu to reveal that she was wearing a fat suit, complete with nipple pasties, which she proceeded to twerk in for the rest of RuPaul’s “Freaky Money.” Some people were not too happy about Shangela’s stunt.

Vicky Vox, one-third of the infamous DWV with Drag Race alums Detox and Willam, said on their Twitter account that they was “bummed out” by the fat suit and that “fat shaming” was being used for laughs.

I’m actually bummed out by Shangela wearing a fat suit for laughs. I’m tired of fat shaming being celebrated. I love you Diva but I’m in my feelings. I can’t take my fat off and i work hard like you skinny bitches to be taken seriously. I’m still the butt of the joke.

— VICKY VOX (@TheVickyVox) March 9, 2018

Vox was not the only person who tweeted about their disappointment with Shangela’s costume.

tfw a fatsuit is a skinny girl’s gamechanging twist #DragRace pic.twitter.com/3DCEAaE1P7

— Caroline Framke (@carolineframke) March 9, 2018

Yeah, actually—that fat suit was just inexcusable. Not funny, not cute, and wholly inappropriate. I’ve been rooting for Shangela all season but I think I’ve got convert to #TeamTrixie for the home stretch. #DragRace #AllStars3

— 💖Steve💘Foxe💖 (@steve_foxe) March 9, 2018

I’m still not over Shangela’s fat suit and everyone finding it hysterically funny. Drag Race cancelled tbqh. #AllStars3 pic.twitter.com/pAI5soQdpd

— harriet ✨ (@dragqueenblaine) March 9, 2018

trixie: “every time you get into drag, you’re making a political statement.”
shangela: i’m gonna put a fat suit on because fat women are grotesque and funny lol #allstars3

— brittany (@brittania_) March 9, 2018

Me @ Shangela’s fat suit pic.twitter.com/BVCHm2pOfB

— nicolette mason (@nicolettemason) March 9, 2018

There were people on the other side who loved Shangela’s fat suit and celebrated her comedic choice.

Shangela: *wears fat suit and dominates*
Trixie:#AllStars3 pic.twitter.com/EXGMHCkRjR

— Alejandro (@icualejandro) March 9, 2018

#AllStars3
me: i really want to trixie win a lip synccccc
shangela’s fat suit: pic.twitter.com/gg0AyztyEH

— 𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔦 (@hjinsoul) March 9, 2018

While many fans might see the fat suit as innocuous, as one fan pointed out on Twitter, putting the suit in context might bear less funny results.

It’s not just Shangela & the fat suit. It’s Trixie & her fans saying “sk*nny legend” all the time, it’s those gays in the audience @ that War On The Catwalk show screaming “NO FATS” repeatedly, it’s all the people in our community silently suffering from eating disorders.

— Vann 🌚🌝 (@velourianwitch) March 9, 2018

In a world of “skinny legend” memes and with more than half of LGBTQ youth struggling with eating disorders, a fat suit will probably not read as funny or light-hearted to everyone.