RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 Cast Faces Hate Crime in Las Vegas: Queens Stand Their Ground
A Shocking Encounter in Sin City
The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas turned into an unsettling experience for the top six queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17. While celebrating their success and participating in press events, the queens were subjected to a hate-fueled verbal attack—an incident that underscores the ongoing discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Suzie Toot, one of the standout contestants of the season, recently spoke about the incident in an interview with Pride.com at the RuPaul’s Drag Race Live 1000th Show in Las Vegas. Recalling the distressing moment, Suzie revealed how she and her fellow queens were confronted with hostility while posing for photos in front of the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
“We did get hate crimed! Suzie Toot can’t catch a break!” the theater queen exclaimed, sharing her shock at the incident.
An Unprovoked Attack
While the queens were enjoying their moment, a passerby interrupted them with aggressive heckling, shouting, “Boo! Boo! Not in front of the children!” The comment, laced with disdain, mirrored the widespread anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment that has been brewing globally. Political figures like Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have fueled divisive rhetoric, which many believe has emboldened such public displays of intolerance.
The queens, however, were not about to let the incident slide. As Suzie recounted, fellow contestants Onya Nurve and Lana Ja’Rae immediately confronted the heckler. “And so Onya and Lana, b*tch, went right up to them and said, ‘What did you guys say?’”
This fearless response was a testament to the resilience of the drag community, which has long faced prejudice but continues to push back against hate. Suzie added a powerful message: “Speak up when something f**ked up is going on!”
The Queens Fight Back
Lana Ja’Rae, the drag daughter of Drag Race Season 15 finalist Luxx Noir London, later took to social media to reaffirm her stance. Underneath a clip of the interview posted on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “And I’d do it again! Talk s**t get HIT, especially when it comes to people talking bad about my sisters.”
This unapologetic stand highlights a growing sentiment within the LGBTQ+ community—one that refuses to be silenced or intimidated in the face of discrimination.
A Reflection of Wider Issues
The incident comes amid a rise in hostility toward drag performers and LGBTQ+ individuals. Across the United States, drag performances have come under attack, with multiple states introducing bills that seek to restrict public drag events under the guise of “protecting children.”
This rhetoric has contributed to a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, as seen in the increasing number of verbal and physical attacks against drag performers and queer individuals in public spaces. The queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 encountered firsthand what many in the community face daily: public hostility fueled by misinformation and fear-mongering.
Despite this, the queens’ defiant response sends a clear message—one of resistance, unity, and the refusal to back down in the face of bigotry.
The Show Must Go On
Even amid controversy and adversity, RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to be a beacon of empowerment and inclusivity. The hit reality competition remains a powerful platform for queer visibility, showing the world that drag is more than just entertainment—it’s an art form and a form of resistance.
New episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 air on Fridays on MTV in the U.S. and are available on WOW Presents Plus internationally. As the season progresses, fans can expect more unforgettable moments, fierce performances, and, as always, a celebration of individuality and self-expression.
The Las Vegas incident may have been a stark reminder of the challenges that still exist, but the queens have proven once again that they will not be silenced. In the words of RuPaul, “We as gay people get to choose our family.” And this chosen family continues to stand tall, together, in the face of hate.
