RuPaul’s Drag Race UK fans ‘baffled’ by ‘absurd’ judging in series two opener

Isobel Lewis
·2 min read
(BBC)
(BBC)

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK fans have been left “baffled” by the show’s judging in the series two premiere.

BBC Three’s drag competition series returned on Thursday (14 January), with 12 new queens competing to be named the UK’s next Drag Race superstar.

*Major spoilers below*

In the series opener, the contestants took part in a Wimbledon-themed photoshoot and a double catwalk with one look dedicated to a UK gay icon and another representing their home town, with self-proclaimed “Susan Boyle of drag” Lawrence Chaney coming out on top.

In the bottom two were Joe Black and Bimini Bon Boulash, who competed in a lipsync to “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, with Joe being asked to sashay away.

Fans were outraged by the judges’ criticism of Joe BlackBBC
Fans were outraged by the judges’ criticism of Joe BlackBBC

The episode’s outcome ruffled feathers online, with many viewers saying that the series opener had been exceptionally strong up until the judging portion and that neither Joe nor Bimini should’ve been in the bottom two.

In particular, fans took issue with the judges’ criticism that Joe’s David Bowie and Brighton Pavilion-themed looks weren’t “commercial” and recognisable enough.

“Joe Black’s critiques are some of the most absurd I’ve ever heard in the history of Drag Race,” one fan wrote.

“I am honestly baffled at the Drag Race UK Season 2 judging. I honestly thought Joe Black was one of the best and nowhere near the bottom,” another fan commented. “That was some bulls***.”

“The way Drag Race UK’s first episode was one of the best first episodes I’d seen in a while until they started judging smh,” one fan commented, while another tweet read: “Been a while since I have seen any RPDR content at all but I can still confidently say that was the worst piece of judging in Drag Race history.”

You can read The Independent’s five-star review of the series opener here.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK returns next Thursday at 7pm on BBC iPlayer

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