Two LGBT+ clubs in Perth have apologised for hosting racist drag shows that featured an upcoming RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under contestant.
ICYMI, Indigenous drag queen Felicia Foxx shared a series of images to Instagram earlier this month that showed Australian drag queens giving racist performances.
On top of the offensive performances, Foxx’s post also showed several drag queens wearing Blackface and making racist comments.
Among the drag queens called out was Scarlet Adams, a contestant on the upcoming series of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under. Within the images, Adams is seen in Blackface, as well as a Bollywood style outfit.
“It makes me sick to my core to see numerous people in the LGBTQ+ community who are profiting off of making a mockery and disrespecting peoples cultures,” Foxx wrote in her post.
“It makes me furious seeing my culture being dismantled, disregarded and shat on and @scarletadamsdragqueen decided to wear this particular outfit including black face and two blacked-out teeth on the 26th January Invasion Day…”
“To think this is what will be on display and representing the Australian Drag scene on @rupaulsdragrace @stanaustralia an international television platform is disgusting.”
Anthony Price, who performs under the moniker of Scarlet Adams, shared a public apology video shortly after Foxx’s post gained traction.
In the video, he said he would “take accountability for the things that he did in his past”.
“I want to say I’m so sorry for the hurt that has been caused to marginalised people and to the communities and I’m sorry that those things ever happened,” he said.
Since then, two of the clubs that hosted performances by Adams have issued public apologies.
Perth’s The Court Hotel wrote on Facebook: “We acknowledge the historic images shared on social media of Scarlet Adams and other performers here at The Court have offended people.”
“While we did not specify the content of the shows, we do take responsibility for allowing them to happen on our stage almost a decade ago and we unreservedly apologise for any offence caused by any performance at the venue that has not been culturally appropriate… these shows, quite simply, should not have happened.”
The venue also said that it had “accepted” Adams’ apology, and was later forced to clarify: “The apology we accepted from Scarlet Adams was for her performing those acts on our stage, those acts were a misrepresentation of all the employees at The Court and should never have happened. We do however take responsibility for not stopping them when they occurred and we are truly sorry.”
Meanwhile, Connections Nightclub apologised for “the use of Blackface and the mockery of the Aboriginal community” in drag shows.
They wrote: “We want to apologise to the community as we deconstruct these ugly parts of our past and recognise the historical institutionalised privilege that we carry at the expense of the BIPOC community.”
“The use of Blackface and the mockery of the Aboriginal community and flag is abhorrent to us as a business and inclusive venue.”
“While the individual involved was asked to leave and suspended from shifts, we must acknowledge that this took place in our venue and a person presenting in such a derogatory and offensive way should never have been allowed to cross our threshold.”
They added: “We also need to reflect on a series of events where we used the traditional dress, makeup and garments of several cultures that were not our own.
“These included, among others; the cultures, nationalities and minorities of China, India, Japan and Korea.”
“These were as inappropriate then as at any other time and we never want to use other people’s culture or identity as a ‘theme’.”
Check out Felicia Foxx’s post regarding Scarlet Adams’ of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under racist behaviour:
View this post on Instagram
