And on March 7, Baird will join the cast of RuPauls Drag Race for its eighth season. On Episode 7, "Glamazon by Colorevolution" Michelle Visage accused DeLa of hiding behind a costume, and that she did not know who the real "DeLa" was. WebMichelle Visage is back again with BenDeLaCreme, the latest kitty girl to be eliminated. ", "ADORE'S AN IDIOT, DELA HAS A STUPID VOICE, SANTINO'S ASSHOLE IS LOOSE!" In addition, she also won three different lip-sync battles this season, which was another stellar feat. He would round up his cousins to put on elaborate cabaret-style shows for family members. It could be anyone just as much as anyone else. She pulled out the black lipstick case on which she had written, in White-Out, her own name: "DELA. (, "Don't fear the drag queen, fear the devil inside the drag queen. Additionally, BenDeLaCreme was not a fan of the behind-the-scenes drama between the contestants. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars If you say Ben you're talking to that guy. In a move controversial with viewers, BenDeLaCreme chose to eliminate herself from her season of All Stars rather than send another competing queen home a protest of the shows reliance on drama. Of course, like most travel plans during 2020, the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Theres no other way for me.. In fact, when given the opportunity to give another chance to Morgan McMichaels, she took it. Its a show in which DeLa is looking for love and looking in all the wrong places its sort of a narrative camp cabaret.. April 19, 2023. These are my people. Its all really overwhelming. Los Angeles, CA, USA Since the beginning, DeLa has said that she was uncomfortable sending other queens home. And all of the queens. When I first saw some of the most incredible performances that Ive seen, it was actually here in Boston, BenDeLaCreme said. Mackenzie Farkus is a production assistant on Boston Public Radio. The crown itself has no bearing on the queens happiness, success or finances. I come from a long proud tradition of people with that same deep need for this art form, and we all now live in a moment where Drag Race is inextricably tied to any drag queens career, whether they engage with it or not. Logo "I'm recognizing that there's a passion toward this specific end that I'm not feeling in this moment." And lots of queens have talked about how funny it is when Ru gets up to go talk to producers/go to the bathroom. 'Cause it's to scale! ", RuPaul, clearly shocked, said, "As it is written, so it shall be. It all fell into place in this way that I didnt anticipate or expect. I felt a sense of calm where I knew I could explain myself and not seem disrespectful, which was certainly not my intention because I have the upmost respect for Ru and what shes built. Lets not perpetuate that. [15], In December 2020, BenDeLaCreme's collaboration film with Jinkx Monsoon, The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Special was released, and can be streamed on Hulu.[16]. I truly hope the fans get their act together and see that. As someone who has followed the show all season long, it was a bit hard to swallow. His mother, who had been the positive voice to counteract this, died of cancer when he was 13 years old. And there is a world out there for me. So in some ways I was asking myself how I could possibly do better, and now Im doing all the things I wanted to do. Dela received continuously high marks until Episode 7, "Glamazon by Colorevolution" in which she and Darienne Lake were paired in a group together for the main challenge, where they had to film and star in a commercial for RuPaul's cosmetics line. There would be some regrets. On the show, Ben revealed that he was bullied as a child for being overweight, 'weird' and gay. So there's been some rewriting that really sort of digs into how we have really changed the sort of immediacy the stakes are much higher of wanting that connection, and how traumatizing it can be to be by yourself. Sent home by RuPaul, clearly Sometimes in life you will not understand. -Jinkx and DeLa" and another holiday show titled, "All I Want for Christmas is Attention." It was amazing to feel fully in control of my own path. I did not leave the competition for my mental health or because a producer put me up to it. There was Season 9's Valentina opting to keep her face mask on in a lip-sync battle, Willam's sudden disqualification in Season 4, not to mention RuPaul's many double shantays and double sashays. I didnt want to engage in those rules. Liz Nicol / Contributed I started drag when you had to love it so much that you were willing to withstand hate from the straight AND gay communities and devote your life to a demanding art form that almost guaranteed you would be permanently impoverished and disdained. Vulture says the episode "makes us doubt whether or not the All Stars format is really working," adding: "Can a reality competition show about drag queens jump the shark?" [10][11], Her first opportunities to perform came at drag revues at Chicago-area gay bars. She is preceded by, BenDeLaCreme is the second queen to win the first challenge on 2 separate seasons, after. After frontrunner BenDeLaCreme decided to eliminate herself, it was thought Shangela was an obvious choice to take the crown. I think a lot of you will find yourselves happier if you assume we are all humans trying our best to varying degrees of success at various times. Challenge Wins 5th (Miss C) Yeah! If those beliefs cant withstand questioning, then they are not structurally sound. Her blend of glamour and camp is very much something that is near and dear to my heart that I identify with. Season 3 I feel like I'm going home winning. Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror, "Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes yesterday! Putnam was first introduced to Drag by the documentary Wigstock: The Movie about New York Citys now extinct annual end-of-summer drag festival. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner Sasha Colby celebrates at Hard Rock Hotel on April 14, 2023, in New York City. Firstly, lets dismantle this you knew what you were getting into narrative. I did not leave the competition as any sort of favor to the other girls. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, 10 Wonderful Versions of White Christmas, BHuman Plays With Giant Puppets in Experimental Goodbye Video:Watch, Stevie Nicks Loves Night of 1000 Stevies Drag Event: You Can Be Any Me YouWant. DeLa is the first on Season 6 to win two main challenges. Watch the first 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8' cast interviews with the returning queens, including Kandy Muse, Jimbo, Heidi N Closet, Jessica Wild, and more. Given that that was her mindset about All Stars a year and a half ago, it seemed especially perverse that it always fell to DeLa to have to decide who to send home, and plausibly destroy a relationship with, all because she had worked her ass off and done well in the challenge. We couldn't do it without you. You gonna be soiled with knowledge.. However, her reasoning does make sense. But as it would turn out, the drag queen had several reasons behind her shocking departure. If you have tweeted, commented, posted or DMed anything negative to any of the queens, this message is for you. We create our own beauty. I know from experience beingthere thats ok. Everybody has to figure out how to play the game somehow, and its hard. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. I love and respect Trixie. Or weighed in on the final episode at all. Secondly, she has more challenge wins than any other queen, at five. So theres some things bubbling and you never know where those are going to go. Ariana Madix Got Caught On Camera Reacting To A "Scandoval" Joke At The WHCD, Kim K Cries In 'The Kardashians' Season 3 Trailer After Her Pete Davidson Breakup, Tom Sandoval Straight-Up Lied About Hooking Up With Raquel On Vanderpump Rules, Everything To Know About 'RHOC' Season 17, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. We define our own success. For all these people to have these strong opinions about a group of people who are doing their best to forge a path for themselves can be overwhelming. DeLa is how I refer to the lady part of me. RuPaul even calls her a star, similar to her feelings about Symone last season. [9] Although his course of study focused on painting, he found himself more interested in performance art. And so really, if you want to sort of get to the peak of this industry of this art, its something you need to participate in.. This sparked a large amount of controversy among viewers. By Episode 6, the drag queen was on a roll in the competition after having won five out of the season's six challenges and three different lip-sync battles. VH1. For this list, well be looking at BenDeLas most iconic performances from her multiple runs As a result, she was never at risk of going home until she decided it was her time to go. He The competition is important in terms of providing the show's structure but really what I love about Drag Race is that a really diverse group of queens gets to go on there and show off their skill sets. ", "RuPaul tour serves up enter-taint-ment - The Gateway", "End Stage Happiness: BenDeLaCreme Makes Solo Provincetown Debut - Provincetown Magazine", "The Newly Crowned Miss Congeniality BenDeLaCreme Takes Over NYC with 'Terminally Delightful' New Show", "BenDeLaCreme: Going Solo in 'Terminally Delightful' - ARTES MAGAZINE", "Q&A with Ben Delacreme from RuPaul's Drag Race", "Homo for the Holidays: An Interview With Ben DeLaCreme", "BenDeLaCreme Adds Performances to TERMINALLY DELIGHTFUL, 5/23-25", "Last Words With RuPaul's Drag Race's BenDeLaCreme | Advocate.com", "Jinkx Monsoon, Colby Keller and Kenny Brain in Capitol Hill Season 2 Trailer", "Anita Gillette, BenDeLaCreme, and More Win Big at MAC Awards", "How drag stars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon reinvented the holiday show in 2020", "RuPaul's Drag Race Will Team with Brady Bunch Cast for Crossover Episode Plus, Watch the First Act of All Stars 6", "The Pit Stop Bianca Del Rio & Jinkx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme! Latrice Royale & Kenya Michaels Lip Sync - You Make Me Feel by. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. She won the main challenge on the very first episode, Episode 1 "RuPaul's Big Opening" Part 1, as well as episode 5, "Snatch Game". Everyone was understandably shocked when Creme pulled out the lipstick with her own name written on it in Wite-Out including RuPaul who said, "Actually, I don't know how to take this." Theres this argument like Oh well you put yourselves out there so we get to scream all of our opinions all over the Internet no matter how it makes anyone feel. Yeah, its reality TV, but its more. One audience member even heckled during her performance by yelling, "Tell us a joke!" Your 24/7 streaming source for equality news and lifestyle trends. Her actions from Episode 6 are just the most recent example of why she won, without ever taking the crown. Congratulations to Shangela for her incredible performance on the show.Congratulations to Kennedy and Bebe on being fierce queens who have earned fans and respect all over the world. The show is all about loneliness, and looking for connection. I tend to reference a lot of 60s pop and stuff like that, but I also move into contemporary parodies. Date of Birth 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. In those tweets she told DeLa, I love you so much. In another tweet, Aja said that DeLa became a crownless queen! BenDeLaCreme, often referred to as BenDeLa or DeLa, is an American drag performer from Seattle, Washington. What are your thoughts on the shows growth? I have to say: I'm with DeLa on this. The Trailer For Netflix's 'Queer Eye' Season 7 Is Finally Here. After two years in lockdown, BenDeLaCreme is back on stage and ready to be committed. Congratulations to the rest of the queens for being brave and fierce enough to share themselves despite the fans who attempt to chip away at their self worth. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. It's an unfair playing field, BenDeLaCreme, of Season 6 and All Stars 3, told VICE. So no, technically, BenDeLaCreme did not win RuPauls Drag Race All Stars 3. Eventually she changed it to BenDeLaCreme. ", She also wondered aloud: "Am I compromising my personal ideals about not wanting to be part of unnecessary conflict [by being here]? I saw that documentary and it just clicked, Putnam said. Our culture has embraced bloodlust, and for some, reality TV has become our coliseum. Yes, I know, it's a silly TV show about men who wear dresses and try to out-do each other in the theater department. I think that the biggest problem I see in that regard, which happens with anything that get super popular, is that people wanna either worship Drag Raceas a deity, or they want to cut it down. Themes of happiness, desire and self-love run deep through her discography. "Both on the last season and on this one. Due to this, DeLa was expected to become the Miss Congeniality winner of Season 6, and was consequentially awarded the title during Episode 14, "Reunited", the reunion special. DeLa became the 29th queen to hit 1 million followers on Instagram on May 21, 2020. WebRu takes off her skirt/pants and wears sweatpants behind the desk. No one is born kind. Herself In an interview with Artes Magazine, he explained "I consider BenDeLaCreme to be the very best of Ben which is the name of the gentleman that I share a body with. Vulture's answer is ultimately no, it hasn't jumped the shark, but I'm not so sure about that. Congratulations to the cast of Season Ten; you are all brave and amazing. Is it exciting to be back on the road and riding the post-Drag Racefame again? You will always be loved and appreciated. Its a ton of work and its really vulnerable to put yourself out there in that way. So its easy to get swept up in and take whatever gig, which is fine. After placing in the top and defeating BeBe Zahara Benet in a lip sync battle, RuPaul asked herwho hewanted to eliminate, and who she wanted to bring back into the competition. Say "theater" and many people think "Broadway. 2 (, "Sweetheart, none of these queens are gonna do you!" Excluding the contestants on All Stars 1 and 7, she is the only All Star in herstory to not have a lipstick with her name shown on screen (not counting the one with white-out). Finally, congratulations to the real fans - the ones who actually show love and support. BenDeLaCreme used to work at a cabaret in Seattle with a different drag name. I was getting very excited. Jaws hit the floor. Tossing out the decision-making to the whims of the participants is like watching people argue on Twitter, and the whole reason I turn on the TV is to get away from people arguing on Twitter. Though the controversial seasonRuPaul's Drag Race: All Starsis a thing of the past, a strongly divisive fissure remains fully formed throughout it's fanbase - one that the upcoming Season 10, which is set to premiere tonight on VH1, is hopefully ready to repair. After hearing the news, all Ru could say was, Actually, I dont know how to take this. And neither did the other competitors. But according to DeLa, she has no regrets. Won everyones heart!. It was certainly the most powerful possible moment in Ben's career to hand RuPaul his critique of Ru's show. She explained herself further in a tweet following the episode, it read: If you dont like the rules, make your own We define our own success.. (, "I said, I cocktail weenie! This lead to speculation that producers of the show may have anticipated outrage from fans after DeLa's elimination, allowing fans to vote in favor of DeLa as a consolation for not reaching the top three as a finalist. "I was definitely more focused on just doing drag than I was on the interpersonal stuff, and I think that's reflected in my leaving," she told Vulture. Afterward, I needed people to process it with. After two years in lockdown, BenDeLaCreme is back on stage and ready to be committed. I think some of you going to jump to wild assumptions about what I mean by that last sentence. There is a community there's people who appreciate what I am drawn toward. [4][5] During his performance on Drag Race, Putnam revealed that he was bullied as a child for being overweight, "weird", and gay. She was a favorite for many. Its a narrative show, and its actually inspired by my relationship with my real life-partner, BenDeLaCreme said. Her unease about sending other queens home wasnt the only reason she decided to leave the show, though. Watch on. You will always be a part of this family. ", Ben said, "I feel so good. Im gonna soil your outfit. As much as people want everybody to go on All Starsand not have any friends or allegiances, thats just not realistic. [3] Her solo shows combine comedy, song, burlesque, dance, and video clips (often DeLa herself in other roles). 5 Episode 11 There's bigotry, the GOP and misplaced tucks. Shifting gears from all thisDrag Racetalk, do you have any fun gigs or new music coming up that youre looking forward to? WebBenDeLaCreme has appeared on two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, her first go-round securing her a spot among the shows 15 Fan Favorites of All He dressed his friend up as Greg Brady and he dressed as Marcia Brady from The Brady Bunch Movie. They went trick-or-treating. But its nice to have a second go around where you can really have the opportunity to get a second crack to channel all of that energy the way you want to. BenDeLaCreme (born September 24, 1981)[2] is the stage persona of Benjamin H. Putnam,[3] an American drag queen, burlesque performer, and actor based in Seattle, Washington. There is no one reason for anything. BenDeLaCreme Finally Spills the Tea on Her All Stars 3 Exit, Calls Out Online Bullies, "Im not Jasmine Masters, but Ive still got some stuff to say.". By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. ", Why BenDeLaCreme Self-Eliminated From Drag Race All Stars, RuPaul, producers, and even the contestants. She chose the most unlikely queen to return (the person she'd had a major disagreement with on episode one) and the person she chose to eliminate was herself. Willow, whose look underwhelmed the judges, is moved to tears as they loved her performance. I'm grateful for the experience I had [on season six of RuPaul's Drag Race], but I've already been through hell in my new showI don't need to go through it on theirs. I don't think that one set of queens' actions devalue the talents of another queen.". RuPauls Drag Race is an experience like no other; sometimes people dont get it right the first time, for any number of reasons, and just need a do-over. | RuPaul's Drag Race S15", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BenDeLaCreme&oldid=1149870964, School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 April 2023, at 23:40. I feel like its really reinvigorating, at least I certainly feel reinvigorated watching the show. the decision of who had to leave down to the queens rather than RuPaul herself, thought Shangela was an obvious choice to take the crown, People really focus too much on the competition element of the show. "In our lives we all have to make decisions for ourselves and being conscious of others is important, [but] at the end of the day you have to follow what your own self is telling you. From RuPaul, to the other judges, to the queens absolutely nobody saw this twist coming. Queen Charlotte review: A Bridgerton triumph, Michelle Yeoh stars in trailer for new Poirot film, EastEnders announces eating disorder story for Ben, I'm a Celebrity airs trial twist for new campers, Alyssa Edwards on if she'd do Drag Race again, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 cast is unveiled, Drag Race's Jinkx Monsoon teases Doctor Who role, Doctor Who first look at Drag Race's Jinkx Monsoon, RuPaul's Drag Race winner on finale performance, Drag Race's Stacy Layne Matthews hospitalised, RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 crowns its winner, Drag Race star The Vivienne splits from husband, Drag Race Espaa confirms return and new queens, Michelle Visage and Clara Amfo team up for BAFTAs, RuPaul's Drag Race stars Alaska and BenDeLaCreme respond to claim Trixie Mattel is undeserving All Stars winner, DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. Although BenDeLaCreme was at the top of her game when she made her shocking exit, it sounds like she had her reasons. BenDeLaCreme is the second queen to win a challenge and leave the competition in the same episode. "I think she'll wear the crown with dignity and that's really what it's all about. to win five challenges in a single season. It was almost starting to get boring how thoroughly she was kicking everyone else's ass. Anyone who has seen Trixie live knows that she is a brilliant comedian. ", Ben said, somewhat awkwardly, as she sashayed away, "Thanks for letting be my kind of winner. We dont have to throw it in the garbage because it has a problem, and we certainly shouldntput it on a pedestal and raise to the level of a god and be blind to the issues with it. I was like Oh, this is who I am. The elimination rules of All Starsfelt like it was just about stirring up drama and cause tension between the girls, and Im just not here for that. DeLa is well known for being a contestant onSeason 6of RuPaul's Drag Race. ", When the time came, and the girls up for elimination came out onstage, DeLa said, in front of God and RuPaul and everyone, "This is the easiest choice I have had to make this entire season." After placing in the top two four times, this season's frontrunner Bendelacreme gave herself the chop, and gave first-girl-out Morgan McMichaels her became a crownless queen! Have you been watching this season of All Stars? Season The superstar queen also reflected on her time on All Stars 3, who shes rooting for on All Stars 4and the sometimes rabid nature of theDrag Racefanbase: We as queer people, transwomen, and femme men have been vilified and have been told were bad our whole lives. If you don't want spoilers, stop reading now. It was really powerful and it was cool to feel this experience because you never feel like youre in control because someone else is running the show. Sometimes in life you will not know. Tonight is an exciting night for a whole new crop of queens, and I want to celebrate them. There is part of me that definitely romanticizesthe days when drag was a little bit more underground and more of a subculture. More recently,BenDeLaCreme has returned to the stage and has been working hard at writing and producing comedic solo showslikeInferno A-Go-Go, and touring her Christmas special with Jinkx Monsoon,To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! A post shared by BenDeLaCreme (@bendelacreme), I was queer, very evidently queer, and like, just a real weirdo, and not capable of not being a weirdo, Putnam said. Seeing DeLa pull her lipstick out to reveal she had written her own name, in white-out, was one of the most shocking moments of Drag Race history. So when BenDeLaCreme elected to eliminate herself rather than one of her fellow queens, jaws hit the floor. I don't know how how to take this. Darienne Lake "Honestly, I feel like most of the queens who were on that show could take home the crown just depending on what lens you are looking through and what set of skills you are valuing most at that moment. I think I can see myself in a situation where Im competing again too. In fact, Ive steered clear of social media for the last week. I dont think those who have not been through the reality TV machine will ever understand what the experience is like and how that might affect choices and actions in any given moment. I cut ties that had been holding me back for years, I took control of aspects of my business and personal life that I had been too afraid to before. "[6], Putnam credits his interest in drag and burlesque to seeing Varla Jean Merman's Holiday Ham in Boston in 2001. Shes won three challenges and three lip-sync battles, which is more than anyone left standing in the competition. Eliminated I think part of it is that they brought in queens from the single digit seasons back in with double digit girls. How about you all just focus on being wildly appreciative that these people have chosen to share themselves and their artistry with you, to bare themselves and be vulnerable despite the knowledge that many of you will be extremely cruel in return? I saw an opportunity to make a statement to the producers, and in turn to you, the viewer. I love and respect Shangela. Which was not one of the options the producers had made available to her. When I was first asked to be on All Stars 3 I said no. She faltered again and landed in the bottom three, narrowly missing the bottom two for the second consecutive week. BenDeLaCreme, after placing in "the top two" on five out of six episodes, collecting more than $25,000 in tips, winning free wigs and fancy vacations, had to eliminate one of the three remaining queens. And, surprisingly enough, that seems to be something that's resonating especially hard with people right now, BenDeLaCreme said. BenDeLaCreme Magnus Hastings As RuPauls Drag Race continues to roll out more seasons than we can keep up with, one of the shows breakout stars, I do miss the sort of nitty-gritty drag that sort of only could thrive in the shadows. RuPaul's Drag Race Drag icon, Litchfield native and RuPauls Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme, is appearing at the Warner Theatre April 20. After DeLa's elimination on Episode 11, following a second lip-sync against Darienne Lake, a firestorm was sparked on social media outlets by viewers.