Joe Black addresses RuPaul's 'baffling' meltdown and his controversial elimination from 'Drag Race UK'

This season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK will go down as one of the most explosive seasons in the franchise's history.

Seeing a bunch of queens finding out about a global pandemic was, of course, top-tier content. But the antics didn't stop once they returned to the 'werkroom' seven months later. Between a number one single on the UK pop charts and a Snatch Game that broke Twitter, it's been quite a ride. And no one knows this better than Joe Black, who was eliminated, not once, but twice.

We caught up with Joe about his time on Drag Race, and the realities of being a performer during a pandemic...

Joe Black was eliminated first during Drag Race UK season 2 (Credit: BBC Pictures)

The comeback of all comebacks

Fans were devastated when Joe was eliminated first-time round. However, when fellow contestant Veronica Green was forced to quit after testing positive for Covid-19, show bosses invited Joe back for a second chance. Viewers and Joe were delighted – but the celebrations, sadly, didn't last long.

In what was deemed some of the "worst judging in Drag Race history", Joe was booted off the show again after RuPaul had a furious meltdown over his choice to wear an H&M dress: "I don’t want to see any f*cking H&M," Ru sneered, in her very best Naomi Campbell impression.

Social media was not best impressed by the outcome, taking to Twitter to denounce the decision as "NOT IT," "baffling", and "one of the worst decisions in the history of drag race".

Standing out

"As a full package, I'm not quite what drag race does," Joe explains. "So I thought it was interesting having me on there. I don't ever look into a mirror and think, 'look at this gorgeous, female-presenting person'. Because for me, that's not what drag is. I don't think it's gendered, it's about being bold, and ridiculous. Some people go for completely gorgeous, and that's fine. But I don't look at myself and think 'I am a glamazon'.

"Drag isn't a genre, it's a vessel. It gives you license and permission to channel whatever you want in the biggest possible way."

And Joe's drag is certainly out there.  Viewers will know that he isn't just a drag queen, but also a respected cabaret performer. Describing his drag as "haunted glamour", the 30-year-old's inspiration comes from movies from the '20s and '30s, with Marlene Dietrich and Norma Desmond being two of his top influences.

"I'm trying to style a vibe, and look like what inspires me, or what I find aesthetically pleasing," Joe continues. "So, for me, it's finger wave wigs, an eyebrow halfway up my forehead, with a big black smoky eye, and a red lip. It's not remotely what Ru Paul does, so maybe there was a 'Hey! What is this?' kind of thing going on."

From the US to the UK

Of course, RuPaul's Drag race is a US-based franchise, and it's only the second season of the UK iteration.

When I ask Joe if he thinks this had any role in his controversial elimination(s), he states: "I think the US drag queens take themselves very, very seriously.

"In the UK we're used to taking the p*ss a bit more. That's not to say that we don't take it seriously in terms of our work, we're just more tuned into thinking that it's quite ridiculous – which it is," he laughs. "I think drag is a really ridiculous thing to be doing."

'This show is cancelled'

Ridiculous or not, Joe has built himself quite the reputation after working the UK drag circuit for going on 13 years. So, of course, when news of the stay-at-home order hit back in March, he was concerned about the future of drag, and his livelihood as a performer.

"I came home from Drag Race, and saw all the announcements that were like 'Sorry, this show is cancelled' - everything just got completely wiped out. I had a week where I was going 'what the f*ck do I do?"

Joe, like many other drag performers, was forced to pivot, and quickly. In fact, his incredibly popular Livestream shows stemmed from a joke. "I said I'd dress up as Marleen Dietrich and read A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I did it. Then, I got my ukelele and did some songs, people seemed to like it... so I got my accordion and did some more songs. It was a happy accident, realising that I could turn my live music shows into Livestreams."

Still, it wasn't easy, and he is incredibly grateful for all the support he has received over the past year. "I would have been able to do it if people hadn't been so quick to rally around and help. People tipped and got involved, and even if people couldn't afford to give a pound, they shared things online. It was really heartwarming, and I know I'm one of the lucky ones."

The cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 (Credit: BBC Pictures)

Breaking the mould

The performer was in a more fortunate situation than most, however. As he explains, appearing on Drag Race has helped him amass a sizeable platform. But for Joe, this influence holds a greater good; he's able to represent those who also "break the mould".

He adds: "It says something to people who don't fit the mould – whether they do drag, or they're just a human being. I've had lots of messages from people saying that they love that I went onto Drag Race, and was 100 per cent authentically myself the entire time. People are touched by my inclusion, and that makes everything worth it."

Given that the finale is just a few days away, I can't help but ask Joe who he thinks will be crowned the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2.

"I've been friends with Lawrence Chaney for a long time, so I would love him to win," he states. "But track record speaking, it's going to be between Bimini Bon Boulash and Lawrence. People will riot if Bimini doesn't win, I think, But Lawrence is my winner."

The finale of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 2 will air on BBC iPlayer on Thursday at 7 PM 

(Feature image credit: BBC Pictures)