RuPaul picked up his third consecutive Emmy Award Sunday night for “Outstanding Host” for RuPaul’s Drag Race.
True to form, RuPaul asked the audience to join him, in the moment: “Everbody say ‘love!'” he announced with the audience joyously joining in.
“Now drive that down to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” he added.
Oh, she DID that! CONDRAGULATIONS to @rupaul for snatching a third consecutive Emmy win for Outstanding Host on @rupaulsdragrace! What you do today and every day is amazing
Now everybody say LOVE! ( @michellevisage) #Emmys2018 pic.twitter.com/r6MN8hpRrr
— World of Wonder (@WorldOfWonder) September 10, 2018
Backstage, Mama Ru was asked about the show’s message of positivity in today’s politically charged social climate.
Ru didn’t hesitate saying, “The divisiveness is new to you, to the white folks. But for outsiders, for us, the gay, black — we have survived and thrived in this kind of atmosphere all of our lives.”
“At Drag Race we’ve always done what we do, and we will continue to do what we do,” he continued. “It’s really about looking at life as a big choice and you can see the glass as half-full, or half-empty — one choice is correct and the other choice will be painful.
“I choose joy — that’s why our show is so successful,” he said.
Since its debut in 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race has become a pop culture phenomenon introducing the world to drag queens who compete in various challenges that reveal their “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent.”
It’s noteworthy that none of RuPaul’s co-nominees were straight, white males: W. Kamau Bell (“United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell”), Ellen DeGeneres (“Ellen’s Game of Games”), Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”), and Jane Lynch (“Hollywood Game Night”).
RuPaul's Drag Race also won for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program, Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming and Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special.
The show is looking to make history by becoming the first unscripted show to win in both the host and the "Reality-Competition Series" categories in the same year.
Facing steep competition, RPDR is considered by many a front-runner against The Amazing Race, American Ninja Warrior, Project Runway, Top Chef and The Voice at next week's Primetime Emmy Awards.
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 17, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.
