Every queen who has suddenly quit RuPaul’s Drag Race and the dramatic reasons why they left
One exit was particularly shocking
When it comes to reality TV competition series, RuPaul’s Drag Race is up there with some of the toughest going. In fact, the ‘drag Olympics’ as it’s often known, shouldn’t merely be reduced to a TV competition show, it’s a whole entity of its own, and taking part is absolutely no joke. The queens appearing on the series aren’t just there for screen time; they’re putting their names on the line in hopes of becoming drag’s next big thing. So, when some of the contestants have opted out and suddenly quit, we can only assume it’s for seriously good reason.
Reality Shrine gives a rundown of every queen who left RuPaul’s Drag Race early and the dramatic reasons why…
Phi Phi O’Hara
Ok, so season four’s Phi Phi O’Hara didn’t exactly quit RuPaul’s Drag Race mid-performance or anything. But she chose not to participate in the reunion and distanced herself from the Drag Race franchise.
Phi Phi O’Hara returned for All Stars two with hopes of redeeming her image, but felt misrepresented by the show’s editing. She faced backlash from fans, and All Stars two was where she called it quits.
Baby
After appearing on Drag Race UK Season four, British queen Baby chose to leave the competition after going through some mental health challenges.
She sadly experienced anxiety and was “really unwell,” per tweets via Pink News.
Baby said she wasn’t able to “switch it on” for the cameras any more, and added: “I was having aggressive and frequent panic attacks, then just walking into the work room, a challenge, the runway, or untucked acting like NOTHING had happened.”
The queen’s departure sparked important conversations about mental health awareness within the drag and LGBTQ+ communities.
Magnolia Crawford
Much like Phi Phi O’Hara, Magnolia Crawford opted out of drag as a whole after appearing on Drag Race.
The season six star had a brief stint on RPDR and later said she only partook for “exposure,” per Just Jared.
She stepped away from drag, focusing on her career outside of the entertainment industry.
Ginny Lemon
Drag Race UK season two star Ginny Lemon made history by walking off the stage during a lip-sync battle.
She pretty much eliminated herself and later explained that the competitive environment was detrimental to her mental health.
For her, leaving was an act of self-care.
Speaking to BBC, she said: “I did not want to compete with my sisters. It made me dreadfully sad anytime anybody went home.”
Icesis Couture
Another queen to leave the show for mental health reasons was Icesis Couture.
The Canada vs. The World queen actually won Canada’s Drag Race Season two.
But she quit upon her return to the franchise to focus on her mental health.
Despite being a strong contender, she rightfully prioritised her well-being over the competition.
Not only did Icesis Couture struggle mentally, but physically, too.
She said at a watch party, per Elite Daily: “I wasn’t in the best mindset going in there to begin with, I was on the tour and I had to leave the tour early because I ended up breaking my leg.
“To be completely honest, I spent like $70,000 on the show, and the doctors didn’t want me to go on the show and wanted me to cancel everything. … I just convinced myself I was going to do it and I would be OK to do it.
“I think that part just f***ed with me. It’s really hard to pretend like you’re OK when you’re really not.”
Adore Delano
Season six fan favourite Adore Delano returned for All Stars two but exited early.
She opted out after receiving harsh critiques from judge Michelle Visage.
She said she felt that her authentic style was being misunderstood and that she was being pushed into a mould that didn’t fit her.
Adore Delano was another queen who chose to leave the competition to preserve her well-being.
The judges asked her to stay, and she later said she felt “embarrassed” and regretted leaving, per The List.
BenDeLaCreme
BenDeLaCreme was a frontrunner in All Stars three.
She won multiple challenges before totally shocking everyone with a self-elimination.
The emotional toll of the competition combined with the pressure of eliminating her castmates were the reasons for her departure.
Per Gay Times, BenDeLaCreme said on an episode of web series, Hey Qween: “I kind of left because I was over the produced drama… That is an exhausting production to be a part of.”
Heidi N Closet
Heidi N Closet, a much-loved season twelve star, returned for All Stars eight but left in episode five.
She quit after experiencing conflict with fellow contestants.
She emphasised the importance of her mental health and personal integrity upon leaving.
While Adore Delano said she had some regret over quitting RPDR, Heidi N Closet had the opposite feelings.
Per Entertainment Weekly, she said: “Absolutely not. I have zero regrets, I stand by the decisions I made, I’m proud of what I got to show…”
Inti
Inti was actually the first queen to leave RPDR.
Harsh critiques from the judges wound up being enough to make Drag Race España season one star Inti quit the show altogether.
She got “frustrated and unhappy with the critiques she was receiving from the judging panel,” per The Tab.
She quit three episodes into the series.
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