Gorgeous not enough. Winona County dragster told to sashay away from Ru Paul “Drag Race.”
When a roast cuts too close to the bone
HOLLYWOOD – Then there were five. Winona County’s Utica-born designer and drag performer Utica Queen was eliminated from this season’s Ru Paul television drag competition. Her runway show, on the theme Cathedral, was spectacular, judges said. But looming darkly were Utica Queen’s cuts at a chubby rival in rehearsals for the segment “Nice Girls Roast.” After taking some in-fire cuts herself, Utica taunted Loni Love: “Does that trigger you? Does it? Whales, manatees. Does Dumbo ring a bell to you?” After overwhelmingly negative critiques from the judges, Utica said she was still “learning what is comedy and what is offensive.” Not everybody took the fat-shaming seriously. Said queen Nina West: “Babe! It is a roast, and we were all in on it and fully aware it was a roast. Give yourself a little grace.” What’s next to Utica Queen, a.k.a. Ethan Mundt? Back to Minneapolis and his design business and drag moonlighting.
Verbatim
Utica Queen: “I feel saddened that themes of body shaming are still prevalent in today’s TV, and I don’t want to perpetuate any body negativity with tasteless jokes. Nothing was done with cruel intentions. Love each other and your bodies in every shape and size.”