Drag Race's Bianca Del Rio Booed for Rape Jokes About Blair St. Clair

The drag queen is facing criticism after a disastrous set at Montreal Pride.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

August 23 2018 4:28 PM EST

August 23 2018 4:29 PM EST

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Bianca Del Rio is receiving backlash for a controversial standup routine where she joked about the rape of fellow RuPaul's Drag Race star Blair St. Clair, reports Into.

St. Clair spoke about being sexually assaulted when she landed in the "bottom two" during season 10 of Drag Race. Del Rio's set in Montreal last week referenced the rape, implying St. Clair came out about the assault to remain on the reality show.

"Then you've got that other bitch, 'I was raped!'" Del Rio said of St. Clair. "No - fuck you! You notice she wasn't raped until she was in the bottom two? Think about that, bitch - that's fucking strategy!"

Members of the audience gasped and booed at Del Rio's assertion, which led to more "jokes."

"Oh fuck you, rape is funny if you haven't had it," Del Rio said. "And if you weren't raped, remember this -- you're ugly. Oh, we're supposed to have sympathy? Fuck you! It is what it is, f*ggots."

Montreal Pride was not pleased with Del Rio's humor.

St. Clair, who spoke with The Advocate about how "femmephobia" contributes to the silencing of male rape and harassment victims, also weighed in.

\u201cIn the U.S. someone is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes, but people persist in thinking that making rape or sexual assault jokes is \u201ccomedy.\u201d It is not. Rape jokes contribute to rape culture.\u201d
— Blair St. Clair (@Blair St. Clair) 1534610130

Del Rio courted controversy four years ago when she defended RuPaul's use of transphobic slurs on Drag Race. Speaking of trans contestant Carmen Carrera, who lobbied for RuPaul to end the offensive language, Del Rio said, "Maybe she should take what's left of her dick and stick it in her mouth and shut the fuck up."