7 Drag Race Queens Who Quit or Paused Drag

[@DragTeaServed]

*Did any of the queens on this list surprise you?* Check out the other videos in this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGizqmmsdshlfNk

[@Ciela887]

I'm so glad Trixie took her break. Her body seemed to be shutting down for awhile there.

[@I_mb_sorry]

Shady bitch 😭

[@Ironorchids]

Frfr

[@crayon6760]

@@567Seviper😐

[@HalloweenR5]

@@567Seviper eww. You can dislike someone all you want, but wishing someone ill health is just gross

[@Ironorchids]

@@567Seviper Ass!

[@glenncheatham1320]

Sad LaLa is quitting. Such a kind soul and great lipsyncer!

[@djslashh3369]

Right?! I'm Gagged! 🤯💔

[@OccamsSledgehammer]

I hope Trixie’s break was enough. I will say that her absence gave us the GIFT of Plasma getting 💩’faced drunk and being hysterical.

[@ColonialHerstoryOriginal]

Lala's situation is so interesting. Drag seems to be an art that opens up opportunities in modeling, fashion design, make-up, singing, dance, presenting and acting. It makes you wonder. Are people more accepting of them foing things in drag rather than out? Rupaul isn't always in drag.

[@LaLagunz187]

exactly.The arent trans women, they are men and its ok if they decide not to want to dress up like women all the time

[@agirlnamedkris6374]

This is a good question and I believe ppl only call on The Queens when they are in that alter-ego. In order for ppl to know the RuPaul of today, he was ALWAYS seen in drag in front of cameras. After his first book release, he would switch in between. He’s even had small cameo roles in major films out of drag but it took loads of effort.

[@godrickstockwell1505]

I've never been a Trixie fan but I'm glad to see her advocating for her mental and physical health. So many of us are taught that the peak of success is working yourself into the ground and that's not okay. I wish all these performers all the happiness and good fortune in the world, in or out of drag

[@lirael423]

"So many of us are taught that the peak of success is working yourself into the ground and that's not okay." Exactly this. It's refreshing to see someone like Trixie, who is fairly famous and is a self-proclaimed workaholic, share their story about how they overworked themselves for so long, burnt themselves out to the point of physical illness, and had to take an extended timeout from life in order to recoup and reprioritize. She isn't just saying "You should take care of yourself." to people while continuing her workaholic life, she literally showed what happens when you don't and is telling people "Don't do what I did, you'll regret it." It's an important lesson that so many people don't learn until they're burnt out and sick.

[@JJ-vd1rs]

I believe that drag queens that make music are given a lot more leniency with the quality of the songs. But if you remove the drag element you better make sure the music can stand on its own and you have the talent to back it up. Because I think of a lot of music the queens from drag race make people only enjoy for its “camp” rather than actually enjoying the song

[@Manuel-y4i4v]

Lala's "music" was not a thing when he was a drag Queen, now that he is not, it's gonna flop Even harder, mark My words

[@valentinemiller8680]

I agree. I will also say though that a lot of drag queens who make music usually play into the camp factor

[@Manuel-y4i4v]

@valentinemiller8680 lets be honest, no one even listened to Lala's "music" when he did drag, now that he retired, it'll flop Even harder

[@valentinemiller8680]

@@Manuel-y4i4v I wasn't referring specifically to Lala's music, I never followed them so I don't even know what it sounds like. My point was just that it would be harder for him to establish a music careers because a lot of people in drag circles create music that is more campy and fun than serious, so he has a lot of work cut out for him if he is trying to pursue more serious music, especially with less of a fanbase. I have no real opinion on Lala's music, and even if I did, it wouldn't be a factor here.

[@Ll3ytonjoce1yn]

Americans will never take drag queens who make music seriously.

[@smaugkat]

I spent two years during throwing up multiple times a day. Went to plenty of doctors. It was stress from Covid. These are hard times for people. If you have the money and opportunity to rest and live a peaceful life. I don’t blame anyone for taking it.

[@nahhhbruhhh]

I think we forget how much has changed and how stressful the world can be. Hope you’re feeling better ❤❤

[@DR-ue2ng]

lol

[@astrisperspecto4130]

People underestimate too often how devastating di-stress actually is for our bodies. Especially if it is continuously put on us - some people revert to drugs in order to find ANY form of relaxation, others find other addictions and some do not and experience the entire shut down. I really do hope you are better now and if not - soon

[@TheMisterEMS]

Lala was so effortlessly iconic and gave us so many iconic moments, among lip syncs and all. I wish him luck on his new journey.

[@YancoxD]

Venus DeLite is just edging her retirement.

[@DTonio4eva]

Lmaoooo

[@davidvilla5279]

I think Venus just felt some type of way cause Madonna brought BOB on tour but has paid her dust her entire career 😭

[@Kellyeeeee]

Lala was one of my favorites from Drag Race, but I sincerely hope he finds happiness and success in whatever venture comes next (thought I'm secretly hoping he finds a love for drag and doing it for himself in the future).

[@nahhhbruhhh]

People mad at lala are insane to me… let him live ❤

[@Locoforvideos]

its just that she said would only return to drag race as a "judge" I dont think if you are not that good of a drag queen and quit doing it, qualifies to be a judge...

[@toriandtilly]

​@@Locoforvideos If anyone could judge drag race out of drag it would be Ru... but not even he does that

[@JoshuaBd]

I loved him on AS8!!

[@tentaciondehielo]

he is a drag waste of time lol he will not be missed

[@Leo-ch2qy]

@@Locoforvideoswhy is that reason for people to be mad at her? also there have been many judges on the show that have never done drag in their life so why is it a problem for a former drag queen to judge other drag queens?

[@Jayforeman3047]

I love LaLa Ri and wish her all the best, but I will say that she can’t expect to retain the same level of fame to an extent as people know her for her drag and not for her other skills. I hope she has the chops to back it up because you can’t expect to retain your whole fan base/career if you do an immediate 180 and are no longer delivering what people fell in love with you for in the first place. Not being shady just calling it how I see it.

[@jacob-968]

She’ll be back

[@MrChulo167]

@@jacob-968 I agree - but also wants to use LaLa Ri. You cant remove yourself from drag and keep the name.

[@beko____]

​@@MrChulo167 I disagree. She created the name and worked as a drag queen to establish herself- I get wanting to use that platform you built. Plus I actually think it's not a bad artist name in general.

[@milianhardt2652]

@@MrChulo167of course you can. LaLa Ri is his creation. He can do whatever he likes to do with it.

[@djk57]

LaLa quitting drag hurts the most out of all these. La Grande Dame is a close second.

[@carlospointofview]

I think a lot of people don’t understand how wearing being a drag queen can be. On top of that, you are playing a character (in most of the cases) and that can really affect mental health.

[@godrickstockwell1505]

A friend of mine does drag locally on top of working a full time job and yeah it's a lot. When they aren't at work they're practicing for their bit in the show. There's almost no downtime to decompress

[@Ironorchids]

If people want to change their artistic image, good for them! Artists deserve to be able to change. ❤

[@rainingsawdust]

We love you Matt. You never miss a beat ❤❤❤

[@valentinemiller8680]

I think Ongina might be coming back soon. One of her recent throwback photos was about the Pink Flamingo bar and how much fun she had there last year, and the Pink Flamingo commented that they should plan her comeback and Ongina replied "soon". So I think she's planning on returning to drag soon

[@luv4tajhanb]

Posted just in time for lunch break! Thank you for always putting out great content, Matt!

[@brisetta]

MATT I am so HAPPY I found you this month!!! Every upload from you just makes me happy and I am still working on that back catalogue :D Hugs from Toronto!

[@shanel4294]

Wish I could rediscover Matt again 🥺

[@DragTeaServed]

Aww thanks 🙏

[@jesscorner6381]

I’m so sad I never got to see Lala in person 😭 I’m looking forward to her next chapter!!😊

[@djslashh3369]

Yes I'm Gagged! 🤯😩💔💀

[@PaigeDWinter]

La Grande Dame? 😭 (Insert pansexual existential crisis here)

[@bugginonthewall]

fantastic as always lovely Matt ❤❤

[@quinnhall8205]

When listing Trixie's accomplishments, you forgot to mention Trixie & Katya hosting the I Like to Watch series on KZbin, where they react to various Netflix shows and films. The series was created by Netflix, so that's a huge project of Trixie's.

[@HalloweenR5]

This is not the first time you've said this, but Trixie and Katya's podcast is called The Bald and The Beautiful. It's a play on the US soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as well as the fact that they are both bald

[@9hostalien]

? He did say The Bald and the Beautiful tho?

[@jessicadiasdacr]

See, in life we often change paths or take breaks from things we've been doing for a while. In the entertainment industry (apart from drag) it happens a lot too. Some people are talking about it as if it's a trend or a sign of some bigger issue in the drag scene, to me it just seems really natural, something that every human being goes through and the fact that we're only observing it in drag now it's because drag has only become popular at this level in the last 10 years or so... Really hope the artists behind the drag personas can find their way and try new things like everybody.

[@pedromenchik1961]

Gigi Goode is quitting too...

[@christianmartinez1091]

the youngest winner of US drag race is Tyra, Aquaria was 21 during filming but turned 22 between filming and the start of the season, Tyra’s crowning was filmed when she was 21, it aired when she was 22 already, but she won at 21

[@NancyJones-uw2rb]

I so missed Trixie, but no matter who you are you must take care of yourself 🩷

[@beko____]

Haven't watched the vid yet, but I find it interesting that no queen has ever quit the competition US main franchise (to my knowledge, not including all stars). I guess Shannel considered quitting S1 but didn't. I get that queens who come back for All Stars hopefully are doing better financially than they were before their first season, so that may factor into it being less difficult decision to quit the competition.

[@WhiteBear2024]

Thank you so much, Lala.

[@Sabisk879]

Im so sad about ongina, she has been one of my favorites and she was such an inspiration to me as a kid. So sad about as5. Hopefully, one day, she can eat up the world again

[@torquettalk]

Please make a part 2 video. I have read that España's Killer Queen will also retire from drag soon.

[@backhand4]

Let's be honest. In the mid 2010s we went through a period where interest rates were low, and angel investing was through the roof. Advertisers and entrepreneurs were throwing money around left and right because borrowing it was easy to come by and the underlying costs of goods, materials, and wages were generally low. The same applies to fans - now having to spend way more on groceries and rent than on entertainment. In this time period, drag was inundated with money and opportunity. Multiple seasons later, with a now-saturated market and under a new economic reality, fame and success as a drag queen is simply more difficult to come by. The opportunities are waning and the money is drying up. This was simply going to be an inevitability at some point. It is a phenomenon that is occurring across the entire media and entertainment landscape too, not just drag.

[@bbrown7536]

Well I guess Trixie got some tricks up her sleeves now.😅

[@RobLinscott]

🎉 Thank you. I've heard of a couple of these in another channel. I like your content about this much better. 🎉

[@RobLinscott]

You give a lot more information as to the subject. We appreciate that focus... 🙏

[@1Gqbucker]

Ive been waiting for Venus D Lite to return to All Stars for AGES! SHES THE MOST memorable 1st out queen!

[@jae2702]

Krystal Versace is booked for DragCon UK in January, I don't think Luke as Krystal has stopped and probably really needs a break

[@imSterling]

22:32 Can we get more of Matt speaking French.

[@dezeroneuf7519]

ikr, as a french myself, his pronunciation of La Grande Dame and Parfum Orange was actually really good !

[@DragTeaServed]

Merci

[@RingoRoad]

seeing krystal's confession look always gags me. she looks like the stormi webster makeup tutorial

[@OhHeyItsDanny]

You have no idea how many drag queens in the local scene have quit as well Super popular queens that just blatantly stopped. So many people do drag as a phase and not as a career. People don’t do drag because they love the art form. It seems to be just another chance for people to get on tv

[@godrickstockwell1505]

Might also have something to do with the fact that being a drag artist is becoming super dangerous here in the US thanks to political BS

[@Trix897]

@@godrickstockwell1505there was an article in the Seattle Times a few months ago that talked about how drag queens are being attacked in the Capitol Hill neighborhood where a lot of the local LGBTQIA+ bars and venues are. If it’s happening in a progressive place like Seattle, that is concerning.

[@godrickstockwell1505]

@@Trix897 a few months ago here in Massachusetts we had armed proud boys "protesting" a drag story hour in Quincy

[@TonyRobinette]

Ongina literally did drag 3 days ago in Los Angeles at precinct. She hosted brunch.

[@musicchit-chat5410]

LOVE ALL YOUR CONTENT! You stopped showing up on my feed for a bit btw! I had to go looking for you! Check if you’re shadow banned! You know how KZbin can sometimes be a pest!

[@torquettalk]

I will miss Lala Ri

[@lucasn.m.755]

Woohoo love new videos

[@deedeetee17]

We’re losing so many Ru girls - it seems that the Toxic gays that run RuPaul‘s drag race are making the show eat itself from the inside out

[@sydrichey6600]

honestly there hasn't been that much that have quit especially if you look at the age of some of their careers they go back n forth with saying they have quit and then they come back maybe months later

[@Matt_Curlew]

Feels more like unstable queens who think transitioning is the answer

[@valentinemiller8680]

There haven't really been that many, a lot are just on break. With the fame that came with being on the show a lot of them are just overworked and need to take breaks

[@adam9321]

The show only got toxic when str8 girIs started watching so the whole toxic gays feels hella unjustified and bigoted. Girls are the one destroying the show and creepin on queen on rddit, check that

[@emerybluh4506]

​@@Matt_Curlew let's not blame trans people when there is an international attack on their rights. yuck!

[@katlegoblake4897]

Drag is not for everyone and thats okay.😊

[@Arbr-Tv]

Just toss Lala Ri on the SNL cast plox thank you.

[@ELEKTRARE]

La grande dame is singing now , new video song bitchiiiiiiiizzzzzz lol 😂

[@Nmh86]

Seems a shame LaLa is leaving drag behind but whatever brings him the most happiness, but he definitely had more career opportunities available for him in drag.

[@scottmoxie]

Ongina has been doing a drag shows lately

[@natashaharris4042]

Do some Dragula videos.

[@ajodea9833]

This is totally unrelated but it would be amazing if you reported on what Tara novas home bar did to her

[@vicious.but.romantic]

Is there a video about Nina Flowers? I have no idea where is she now. Or Rebecca Glasscock.

[@cuteandviolentchibi]

Venus feel like a lot of break

[@Numbexio]

People asking people if they wish to appear on some type of All Stars season after they announced they quit drag, specifically the type of drag that Drag Race showcases, are dumb or what? They just said they quit drag, why would they go back to Drag Race when they’re literallly QUITTING drag?!

[@9hostalien]

innit! But I guess it's a bit like when you quit a job, and the coworkers are like "aw, what a shame...but you'll gonna visit us once in a while, yeah?" and you say "of course" but then you leave and never come back, unfollow their accounts, and delete their numbers 💅 at least on All Stars they make money

[@jahjaii]

I've seen La Grande Dame is taking a step back out of Drag, since some french ppl commented and explained to foreign fans that France isn't that tolerating of queer ppl, and his production also doesn't want to do anything with drag. correct me if i'm wrong

[@lt8607]

The girl got rich and switched 😮

[@RRandomnessm]

YAS

[@surrealistgirlx]

Nooooo, not Lala Ri. NOOOOOOOOOOO, not Ongina. 😭😭😭

[@valentinemiller8680]

Ongina will come back! She just needed a break for a little bit, she probably had a lot of work she was doing that stressed her out

[@palmyrefevrier]

Sorry but Chrystal saying that especially their industry doesn’t encourage looking after your mental health, I get it but they need to realise how privileged they are to be able to take a break… go tell that to people working in factories, hospitality, care industries…

[@quinnhall8205]

Venus D Lite likes the attention. It's clickbait for clout. She knows that if she posts that she's quitting, it will get people's attention. Then she deletes the post and pretends like it never happened. Then with the video. She gets people to watch it because she says she'll address whether she's quitting. But then she never addresses it and by then, you've wasted an hour watching the entire video.

[@Manuel-y4i4v]

This is my opinion, Lala really pissed me off. He said he was forced to do drag.. really? So many queens who are dying to get a chance on the show and love what they do and this man even got into all stars and won 50k? So disrespectful to queens that love drag with their soul. 😡

[@nahhhbruhhh]

Not sure how it’s disrespectful to try to win money lol

[@samdavies9723]

As much as I hear this, what’s so wrong about doing something you succeed at, and you just happen to be good at, even if it’s not your passion you just fall into it.

[@Manuel-y4i4v]

@@samdavies9723 it's My opinion.

[@renemunoz9194]

Killer Queen

[@Wercik997]

Lala Ri is limited regarding what he can do regardless of whether he's a drag queen or not. He's very basic. All drag is valid, yes. But not all art.

[@Ohhhwehere]

❤

[@fanofmany71]

There goes LaLa's career, but once the money and fame dries up, LaLa will be back NO QUESTION. This is the case for many queens who think they will find money and fame elsewhere. For those looking after their mental health, we may not see a return or we may. Mental health is important.

[@Ironorchids]

This is a really mean and unhelpful comment. The more I think of it, the crueler and weirder it comes off. That’s your message, really? “Whatever, they’ll be back when they need money?” Do you know how entitled and ignorant you sound? Artists are allowed to stop, and you personally had ought to learn to accept it with more grace.

[@ThisIsTheKendom]

@@Ironorchidsnormally, I’d agree with you but the fact that LaLa views it as a job and not a passion makes me agree more so with the original poster.

[@RomeroRomeral]

I would maybe phrase it differently but yes, none of the ex-queens who still want to be viewed as artists have done anything nearly as succesful or well known as Drag Race.

[@stabithatv]

Literally every other type of entertainment (except stand up comedy) pays better and costs less than drag, so removing drag from the equation isn't necessarily going to effect the bottom line as much it seems. I make more money from being a man in plays and publishing than lip-syncing in nightclubs and hosting variety shows.

[@TrashCanSystem]

drag is slowly losing it's appeal, and that's ok.. the boom was we having an opportunity to watch transvestites creativity being celebrated on TV, now is just too many queens doing the same thing, McDonalds of drag

[@ttban1988]

I agree Drag is kindda not fun anymore.

[@christiantorres5300]

Lala was never polished n her all star ru. Shouldve been her original ryn cuz it was still rough

[@freshavocado94]

Lala gives me the vibes of somebody who wanted to be a drag queen to be on drag race. He accomplished that and that’s it

[@Gms1301]

Lala Ri…wants to judge…after her mess of both runs on Dragrace…add on you r quitting but expect ppl to respect someone who refuses to do drag herself now but will critique queens on how they do their drag?…. Just leave show biz…so 2000…and never …fetch won’t happen girl

[@mattm1725]

It’s not an airport, no need to announce your departure.

[@baljj]

What attention seeking behaviour from Venus. Girl you are the least famous queen in this line up - I thought you’re overthinking how many people are being edged by your ‘stay tuned’ posts 😂

[@sighfull]

Lol, goodluck with the career as an "artist" of which he speaks of

[@chloebeaumont7530]

Trixie can disappear completely and I would not miss a beat of my heart

[@oskaruib]

And you still spent time making this comment about Trixie

[@chloebeaumont7530]

@oskaruib absolutely, there must be a contestant that was loathed by someone. Not every queen who has appeared on this show is loved unconditionally

[@oskaruib]

@@chloebeaumont7530 must be? Oh poor little soul

[@JordanWhite-bd5pg]

Lala Ri career will be done, Ru won’t call her back for nothing, and she will eventually be forgotten. :(

[@elbluedemon1000]

Do we care that much if Venus quits drag????😂😂😂

[@ELEKTRARE]

One kween down lol 😂 one hundred 💯 kweens are rising up haha okkkkkuuuuuurrrr byeeeeeeee Lala Ri ✌🏼🙀🙀

[@PeyGee2800]

Don’t nobody care about Venus D Lite quitting girl BYE . Out here baiting for fans get a life !!

[@lionsmane3624]

Lala really took away those drag race spots from drag queens

[@gabbyblanchard]

this is a horrible take. she gave us amazing TV and created some iconic moments. just because she's retiring from drag doesn't discredit all the hard work she did both on and off of the show

[@NICKEJAE]

I love Lala rí but this just sounds like he did drag for the “fame”

[@toriandtilly]

Wait, if LaLa never wanted to do drag full time but only did because of fame from the show then why did he go on the show in the first place? I legitimately don't understand that! If your goal all along was music then go on a music show. Its like showing up to American Idol to get exposure for dancing. It doesn't make any sense!

[@EverythingDragRacess]

PLASTQIUE has the most followers out of any contestant not trixie

[@rayneseaux4723]

On insta, Plastique only has 2.8 mil, Trixie has 4 mil.

[@DragTeaServed]

I said Instagram followers, which is true. Trixie has 4M, Plastique has 2.8M.

[@RealLordVoldemort]

​@@DragTeaServed get her Jade

[@sydrichey6600]

and by far trixie is the literal face of drag outside of drag race with her multiple channels and tv show opportunities

[@STACEYXRENEE]

Trixie:” so fvck my instagram followers right???”

[@mdylan3989]

First

[@user-qh7uu6yy2l]

LaLa girl... we could tell you didn't like drag looking at your wigs lol. I think they'll be back because it is probably 100 times harder to be able to shine in music industry compared to already open doors of drag.

[@dieggusxd]

Never been a fan of Lala whatever

[@travisabr1294]

When talking about drag use drag pronouns...

[@jasperwellington11]

If the performer has quit drag amd wishes to go by their out of character pronouns then Matt was correct in saying he. Stop trying to gatekeep 🙄

[@Xxelviroxx]

LOOOL i can't stop laughing at LALA RI'S DELUSIONS hahahaha he really think he's more alente than he really is hahahahaha