Episode one of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 premiered on Thursday, February 28. What could’ve been a 90-minute introduction to the new group of queens plus “VANJIEEEEEEE” being said on repeat didn’t exactly happen.
The focus on social media in the days since have centered on Chicago contestant Silky Nutmeg Ganache, who made quite the entrance into the new season and kept that energy going as the show progressed.
Silky made her presence be known the instant she came into the werk room. The other queens seemed to get barely any screen time as a good portion of the program revolved around some of them being frustrated about Silky’s personality (Ariel Versace being one of them).
And it wasn’t just the queens. Miley Cyrus, who was the special guest judge for the season premiere, rode on top of Silky who pretended that the two of them were a life-sized “Wrecking Ball” (in relation to her number one song).
This stole focus from the moment being about the 26-year-old introducing herself in a more proper way to the queens. A good amount of people has said that It was awkward and uncomfortable to watch and compared it to what Eureka did in season 9 when she appeared to make it all about herself and not the group when talking to Lady Gaga.
The frustrations people have felt about Silky have been seen all over social media since the episode aired. When you google Silky Nutmeg Ganache, the second suggested choice after her name is “annoying.” Good lord.
As an avid RPDR fan, and someone who has watched from the beginning, let me say this about Silky’s backlash. I can see where people are coming from, as episode one showed her being a bit extra for my taste, but to judge someone this harshly this quickly comes across as premature, rude and honestly a true sign of online bullying.
We don’t have cameras following us all day that then gets edited into a 42-minute show for people to digest and criticize. Saying horrific things to someone after one episode aired just shows the nasty type of fanbase this show has and is completely uncalled for.
I’ve also noticed quite a lot from the fans of this show where they will hate someone just from a promo video and then love them quickly after. I vividly remember Katya getting a ton of s**t from trolls who saw her as another version of Willam just based off the s7 promo clip. Now she’s arguably one of the biggest queens to have ever appeared on RPDR with a future brighter than many.
RPDR also does an interesting job at editing the show too. They have a way of making you love someone one episode, disliking them the next, and feeling indifferent about them after that. So, your opinion could change about Silky (and the other flock of s11 contestants) the minute episode two airs next Thursday. Doesn’t mean you need to spew vile at her for being who she is.
This is a community, right? Let’s act like it.
This is the opinion of one contributing writer and not that of Instinct Magazine or other Contributing Writers.