Last night's Emmy Awards took an unexpected turn on Monday night after viewers spotted a peculiar-looking guest in the crowd.
Sporting green skin, a hideous face, long claw-like nails, and a beautiful green gown, it didn't take long for the eye-catching guest to get people talking on social media.
Taking to X, people quick shared their bemusement, with one person writing: "does anyone have any intel about the goblin at the emmys? [sic]"
"A green creature has been spotted at the #EMMYs," the celeb-focused page Pop Base tweeted, while a third alarmed viewer asked: "WHO THE HELL IS THAT?"
Well, it wasn't long before internet sleuths got to work and were finally able to unmask the iconic goblin as reality TV star Princess Poppy - who is perhaps best known for being a contestant on season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
While her fellow castmates opted for glamorous attire, Princess Poppy's unconventional choice left viewers in awe and confusion.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on the red carpet, Poppy explained her unconventional outfit choice, stating: "I wanted to do the exact opposite of what is expected of you when you go to an event like this. I wanted to take decorum and turn it on its head."
She continued: "Mainly I wanted to be a troll-slash-hag. I wanted to be so shocking that you just have to turn and look at me — in the worst way possible."
And just in case you wanted to see what Princess Poppy looked like out of drag:
Despite its over-the-top nature, Princess Poppy's outfit was fitting, considering RuPaul's Drag Race's continued domination in the reality television category. The long-running series secured the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
During his acceptance speech, RuPaul used the platform to issue a call to action, emphasizing the importance of embracing drag queens and to fight back against recent bans on drag shows - such as library readings. Check out the speech below:
He stated: "If a drag queen wants to read you a story at a library, listen to her because knowledge is power, and if someone tries to restrict your access to power, they are trying to scare you. So listen to a drag queen!"
The Human Rights Campaign praised RuPaul's speech on X for highlighting "the importance of protecting our power as LGBTQ+ people in the face of anti-drag attacks."
As reported by CBS News, singer Lizzo was another celeb to protest a recent law restricting drag shows in Tennessee. The 'About Damn Time' singer brought 20 drag queens - including RuPaul's Drag Race stars Aquaria, Kandy Muse, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo - on stage during a show in Knoxville.
RuPaul's influence on mainstream culture and LGBTQ+ acceptance has been remarkable, but he remains cautiously optimistic. In a 2020 interview with CBS Mornings, he questioned the extent of LGBTQ+ acceptance in society, saying: "I don't know how accepted it is. … We're more polarized in our country than I think I've ever witnessed in my lifetime."
Princess Poppy's audacious appearance at the Emmy Awards served as a reminder of the power of individuality and self-expression in the entertainment industry, where creativity knows no bounds!