Image Credit: Mathu Andersen/LOGO RuPaul’s Drag Race
The full cast for RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race is as follows: Pandora Boxx, Chad Michaels, Yara Sofia, Jujubee, Nina Flowers, Mimi Imfurst, Manila Luzon, Shannel, Alexis Matteo, Tammie Brown, Raven, and Latrice Royale. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Aaron Young/Logo
UPDATE: Lots of fans have posed another question for Willam: Why did she barf on the runway just before being disqualified? At the reunion taping, an audience member posed the question to Willam, but the answer she gave didn’t make the cut in the episode that aired last night — probably because it wasn’t as juicy as we had all hoped. Since EW was at the Reunited taping, we can tell you her answer. It’s rather basic, really: Willam explained that she knew she was getting eliminated from the show, so during her lunch break that day, she gorged herself. If you remember, she was wearing a corset-style top that day. So it was simply biology at work: She ate too much and was squeezed into something too small to hold it — so something had to go. Willam did explain, however, that she cleaned up the mess herself.
EARLIER: What did Willam do? It was the question we all asked after the controversial contestant was eliminated from RuPaul’s Drag Race — a first for the series — back in mid March. Rumors about what rules Willam broke spread like wildfire, but at the time, the queen wouldn’t reveal her transgressions, even during an interview with us here at EW.
All the details came to light, however, on tonight’s the season 4 finale-reunion of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where Willam — dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-toned dress — revealed what she did to get booted from the runway prematurely, during a one-on-one interview with the show’s host and head judge RuPaul.
Of course, Willam started out answering the question — “What did Willam do?” — by making a joke. “What didn’t I do?” she said. But then she continued with the answer that she’s peddling as the truth — that she was having sex with her husband in the hotel where the Drag Race queens were quarantined during taping. (It’s common knowledge that reality show contestants are cut off from the outside world during the competition.)
Specifically — in a bit that got cut from the episode that just aired — Willam explained: “My husband was coming to bang me out.” (EW was on the scene at the taping, which is how we have the further, more graphic quotes from Willam.)
Image Credit: Aaron Young/Logo
RuPaul just announced one of the fine drag queens pictured here as America’s Next Drag Superstar, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4. “The race for the crown,” RuPaul said at the top of the hour, “has never been this tight.” And, indeed it was! The run-up to the crowning has been long and drawn out, to say the least. Luckily for you all out there, EW has an exclusive interview with the crowned queen — which we’re keeping super spoiler-friendly here, in case you haven’t seen the episode — and you can read that below.
Image Credit: Aaron Young/Logo
SPOILER ALERT: After nearly an hour of reunion interviews and delightfully draggy festivities — Willam revealed what she did that got her eliminated from the show earlier this season, Latrice Royale was awarded the Miss Congeniality award, and RuPaul interviewed the three finalists Phi Phi O’Hara, Sharon Needles, and Chad Michaels — Drag Race host RuPaul finally crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar. The “finally,” of course, comes because Ru was supposed to do it last week but didn’t and then even shot three separate endings to tonight’s reunion-finale to keep the secret under wraps.
The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, America’s Next Drag Superstar is…
Image Credit: Aaron Young/Logo
Last week, EW was on the scene for the reunion taping of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Reunited, which will air this evening at 9 p.m. on Logo. (Of course, you’ll also be able to stream coverage of the show’s big coronation party in NYC — there will be interviews with all this season’s queens — on LogoTV.com, from 8 to 10:15 p.m. ET tonight, too.)
Based on what happened at last week’s taping, the episode that airs tonight should be a doozy of an hour that will delve into the drama around Willam’s surprising early exit from the season; award one queen the Miss Congeniality award (you might be able to guess who, but I’m not telling you…); and, of course, finally crown Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles, or Phi Phi O’Hara as America’s Next Drag Superstar.
No one knows who will take home the glory except for one person: host and show namesake RuPaul. Which is why we here at EW enlisted the drag legend for a quick chat last Friday afternoon to discuss all things about tonight’s Reunited special and season 4.
Read on for Ru’s thoughts on the controversial decision to tape three endings to tonight’s episode; why season 4 was stands out from the previous three; the appeal of fallen queen Latrice Royale; what’s going on with All Stars: RuPaul’s Drag Race; and much, much more.
Image Credit: Aaron Young/Logo
Last night at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif., the 13 contestants from season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race gathered for the show’s annual reunion and — because host RuPaul refused to pick a winner in Monday’s season finale episode — a very special crowning of this year’s winner. Only, you know that’s not how that was going to go down.
Were they really going to reveal the winner to a live audience armed with big mouths and Twitter accounts? Think again and allow me to explain exactly what went down, since I was on the scene for the three-plus hours of taping, which happened in front of a live studio audience for the first time ever.
As you might expect, RuPaul went through the whole evening, interviewing all the gals about the hot-button issues from the season and talking about their futures and whatnot — I’ll go into that in more detail later — but there were two specific things that everyone was dying to see play out on stage: the delayed crowning of America’s Next Drag Superstar and Ru’s interview with ousted contestant and egomaniac Willam, who was infamously disqualified earlier this season.
Let’s start with the weirdness around the crowning of America’s Next Drag Superstar. READ FULL STORY »
You read that headline right, Drag Race fans: RuPaul pulled a fast one on the queens — and the show’s rabid viewership — by shockingly announcing on tonight’s season 4 finale of the reality competition that she would not be crowning America’s Next Drag Superstar. Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O’Hara, and Sharon Needles all remain in the competition…for now.
“Ladies, I’ve made my decisions,” RuPaul said, with all the drama in the world, just as she was about to reveal her choice on the runway. “Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O’Hara, Sharon Needles, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, America’s Next Drag Superstar is…going to be announced next week on RuPaul’s Drag Race Reunited.” (Note: EW will be on the scene for the reunion, which is taping Wednesday evening in Los Angeles, and will share all the details will you in time.)
Image Credit: Mathu Andersen
Latrice Royale was shockingly eliminated from RuPaul’s Drag Race in last week’s new episode, which whittled the field down from four to three. (Sharon Needles, Phi Phi O’Hara, and Chad Michaels are still standing.) At the time of her departure, Ms. Royale was nowhere to be found for a patented EW exit interview, but we caught up with the beloved big queen for a few minutes today. Latrice is a pleasure: She gamely talked to EW about her elimination, that touching speech she made to RuPaul, the contestant she’s rooting for now (thankfully, it’s not Phi Phi!), whether a big girl will ever win the Race, and what her next move is. Read on for all the dish from Latrice Royale.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did it feel when you were eliminated? Sad?
LATRICE ROYALE: I had such an amazing experience, and I had grown and gotten so much more out of the competition than I expected, so it was really a rush of emotions overtaking me. I had come to the realization that I had really, really made a mark and a difference on the show. It was so emotional for me. I didn’t want to leave the girls. RuPaul has really changed my life. I really feel that. I’ll never be the same.
How have you changed?
For me, personally, I had a lot of healing to do and I didn’t realize that coming on the show was going to give me the opportunity to do that, to close some chapters and open up some new ones, you know? It was just amazing. Of course I was with other contestants, but I was there by myself — no distractions — so you kind of have to face your dark days, you know?
With the challenge that eliminated you, did you think the judging was fair? Should someone else have gone home?
I mean, it coulda went either way. For me, we were all trying to create and make things fresh and new. And then some people just grabbed their dirty laundry out of their suitcase and walk it down the runway and win? I’m bitter! I still can’t swallow that pill.
In last night’s shocking episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, one of the season’s most beloved queens went home, in a sad — and truly unexpected — elimination. (It goes without saying that it was not Phi Phi O’Hara.) The queen that RuPaul told to “sashay away” was…
Image Credit: Mathu Andersen
…Latrice Royale. The correct sentiment to feel at this point is: It should have been Phi Phi O’Hara.
Yes, Phi Phi has been a fierce competitor throughout the season, but as Sharon Needles (who won the challenge again) pointed out on the runway, she’s sort of a pill to handle. It’s my opinion that America’s Next Drag Superstar should have both looks that kill and a personality that kills, too. Phi Phi is just hard to swallow on the personality front.
But anyway, back to Latrice. RuPaul’s goodbye to her was one of the most heartfelt the show has ever seen. “Latrice Royale, my queen,” RuPaul said with the appropriate level of drama in her voice, with news that seemed painful for her to deliver. “I bow to you. And I have one thing to say: Bitches better beware.” That whole thing is so genius. Can “bitches better beware” please be written on my tombstone? Or my business card? Tattooed to my butt?
However, it was what Latrice did next — give a teary little speech on the runway — that really got my waterworks going. “You have changed my life forever,” Latrice announced to RuPaul, in front of judges Santino Rice, Michelle Visage, Wynonna Judd, and Rose McGowan and surviving queens Phi Phi, Sharon Needles, and Chad Michaels. “You have changed the world of drag forever. I love you and respect you so much, and thank you for seeing something special in me. Thank you.”
And then, just before sashaying off the stage for the final time, she announced: “She is large, in charge, chunky, yet funky. The bold and beautiful, I am Latrice Royale!” You can scrape me up off the floor right over there.
Lastly, in her final interview commentary, about the time the camera showed her signing off with lipstick on the workroom mirror, Latrice kept serving her realness — all of which made me love the big gal that much more. “Dream and dream big,” she said straight into the camera, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what color you are, what shape you are, be the best that you can be.”
Could you love Latrice anymore at this point?
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
Read more:
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ disqualified contestant speaks out: ‘I wasn’t caught doing anything’
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ week 6 query: Was Milan’s lip-synching awful — or genius?
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ week 5 query: Which queen did the best celebrity impersonation on ‘The Snatch Game’? POLL!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ week 4 query: How much are you loving Latrice Royale?
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ week 3 query: Can Sharon Needles’ domination be stopped? Vote in our poll!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ week 2 query: Was ‘WTF’ one of the most outrageous challenges ever?
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season 4 premiere query: Is Sharon Needles the most ‘sickening’ contestant ever?
Submitted by McProphet:
Moderator: Can you give us an example of a time when you made peace with someone you didn’t see eye-to-eye with?
Latrice Royale: About five minutes ago, I looked across at Ms. O’Hara and I realized that she was ugly. And I’m at peace with that.
– Latrice Royale, during the campaign debate on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Check out the rest of your quote submissions from Monday, March 26th, and make sure you come back tonight to share your pick for best sound bite!
