SPOILER ALERT: This contains spoilers from the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16.
Charlize Theron, the Oscar-winning actor and longtime LGBTQ advocate, made her debut as a guest judge on the season premiere of MTV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and boy did she bring the support for the drag community.
In the opening episode of Season 16, Theron didn’t hold back, telling the queens that the efforts to curb the rights of drag performers are driven by fear and ignorance. She didn’t mince her words, saying, “Given the climate in our country right now, there’s a lot of energy being put toward your community not existing. I truly believe that all of that is coming from a place of fear. The beauty of what your community brings and the truth of who you are and represent will come out. Don’t give up.” Preach it, Charlize!
Contender Xuname Muse, daughter of Kandy Muse, was quick to praise Theron for speaking out, saying, “I love that Charlize came here. She is using her platform to protect our rights. It’s affirming as an artist when our allies share the message of love that we bring when we do this.” Can we get an amen?
Not content with just dropping truth bombs on the main stage, Theron later joined the queens on “Drag Race’s” post-show “Untucked” and got real about raising her two young children. She said, “I want them to grow up in a world where they know what it means to accept what’s not you, what is different and love that, to not be scared of that, and to embrace it, and that’s my job as a mom.” But wait, there’s more! Theron also talked about the power of words and love, saying, “I feel like we’re living in a day and age where our words can so easily be weaponized against us. I worry about us as people and what we can do to each other, and how powerful it is when you love and how powerful it is when you hate. One destroys and one builds.” Mic drop.
Now, let’s talk about the queens. In addition to Xuname Muse, the competition this season features a fierce lineup of queens including Amanda Tori Meating, Dawn, Geneva Karr, Hershii LiqCour-Jeté, Megami, Mhi’ya Iman Le’Paige, Mirage, Morphine Love Dion, Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane, Plasma, Q and Sapphira Cristál. It’s safe to say these queens are ready to slay the game.
And oh, did we mention there’s a twist this season? Host RuPaul announced that the top two queens of the week will face off in a lipsync elimination battle. Talk about upping the stakes! Sapphira and Q were chosen to “slay-off” by performing Beyonce’s 2022 hit “Break My Soul.” Let the lip-syncing battle begin!
Taking to Instagram, Theron couldn’t contain her excitement, saying it was “a dream come true” to serve as a “Drag Race” judge. And honestly, we can’t blame her. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the fabulousness that is “RuPaul’s Drag Race”?
Charlize Theron used her debut as a guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to spread the message of love, acceptance, and support for the drag community. With her powerful words and unwavering support, she has shown that she’s a true ally and advocate for LGBTQ rights. And let’s not forget the fierce queens who are ready to battle it out for the title of America’s Drag Superstar. It’s safe to say that Season 16 is off to an epic start, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store. So, in the immortal words of RuPaul, “Don’t f*&k it up!”
