Ascene from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars that featured a contestant portraying a double mastectomy as they walked down the runway has sparked outrage among a number of conservative social media users.
In a recent episode of the show, contestant Gottmik was seen participating in a runway challenge alongside the other contestants. Gottmik, who became the first man assigned female at birth to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race during Season 13 of the long-running show, depicted her transition while walking the runway.
Gottmik, whose name is Kade Gottlieb, went topless while sporting an ensemble that included fake hands wrapped around either side of her torso. Each of the hands rubbed scalpels against her chest, which depicted mastectomy stitching and scars.
The Arizona native, who uses she/her pronouns while in drag and he/him pronouns when out of drag, carried a clear bag that depicted the removed breast tissue. The runway look was selected to symbolize her transition.
Popular right-wing account Libs of TikTok shared footage of Gottmik’s runway moment on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, alongside a caption that stated it featured a drag queen “acting out undergoing a double mastectomy surgery. This is what RuPaul and [drag] promotes. Absolutely disgusting.”
The post sparked a strong reaction from a host of X users, including MAGA influencer Paul A. Szypula, who wrote: “This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen done on a runway in promotion of gender ideology. Shame on @RuPaul.”
RuPaul’s d*ag race featured a d*ag queen acting out undergoing a double mastectomy surgery. This is what RuPaul and d*ag promotes. Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/CWaJuJIpnk
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 26, 2024
“When I was a kid we were taught to love ourselves no matter what,” commented an avowed Donald Trump supporter. “Now they try to teach kids to hate themselves and even do body altering surgeries. The world has become sick.”
“This is a whole new level of disturbing,” read one comment, while another detractor said: “This is one of the worst things I have ever seen.”
Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, who was suspended from X in 2022 after sharing a disparaging post about transgender actor Elliot Page, stated: “LGBTQ+. Watch out for that plus.”
RuPaul’s d*ag race featured a d*ag queen acting out undergoing a double mastectomy surgery. This is what RuPaul and d*ag promotes. Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/CWaJuJIpnk
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 26, 2024
Sall Grover—the CEO of a female-only app, who is currently embroiled in a legal battle over revoking a transgender woman’s membership on her platform—described Gottmik as a “woman who claims to be a man and then does drag to be a ‘man’ pretending to be a ‘woman,’ glorifying the double mastectomy she had for ‘entertainment.’ Just a nightmare in every way it could be.”
Amid the flood of criticisms, a host of fans spoke out in Gottmik’s defense, with one writing: “Love that you picked such a good video, she’s [eating]!”
“You know you made it when you have alt-right twitter crying over your runway lewk,” read another post siding with Gottmik.
A different post said that Gottmik “looks so good walking in slow motion, thank u for this clip.”
Over on Reddit, one viewer commented: “This look was PURE ART. The fact that they had this runway prompt with a trans man, and he chose to showcase his interpretation with a mastectomy surgery often necessary for gender euphoria and alignment… man. LAYERS. True art. It irritates me that it wasn’t given the discourse that the look deserved.”
Newsweek has contacted representatives of Gottmik and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars via email for comment.
Gottmik, who made it to the finale of season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2021 told Entertainment Tonight at the time that her success on the show would “prove all these people wrong that I am here and I’m trans and I do drag and I can do drag and drag is an art and not an identity. And I got to prove that.
“So, I’m so proud that I was able to come on the show and tell my story and see how many people were inspired by my story and inspired to start drag and move forward in their transition and so many things. I know that even just me being on the show, no matter what happens, I made such an impact. I’m so proud of being here and what I did.”
The backlash comes after it was revealed that legislation is being considered by states across the country to limit drag and wider LGBTQ+ inclusion. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) stated in April 2023 that there were 14 state legislatures considering bills to restrict or ban drag.
Lawmakers have previously expressed concerns over Drag Queen Story Hour—readings for children by drag performers at libraries—arguing the proposed laws are necessary to protect children, but critics argue they create a hostile environment and infringe on LGBTQ+ rights.