Arts & Entertainment
Bebe Rexha calls ‘Drag Race’ contestants ‘cold’ for not recognizing her
Aquaria clapped back at the pop star

Bebe Rexha performing at VH1’s Trailblazer Honors (Screenshot via YouTube)
Bebe Rexha got a little upset when some “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants didn’t recognize her at VH1’s Trailblazer Honors.
Rexha, 28, opened the show with a performance of “In the Name of Love” but tweeted that things weren’t so friendly backstage.
“I met some of the contestants from ru Pauls drag race and I wasn’t in Hair and Makeup so they didn’t know it was me and they were COLD af,” she tweeted.
I met some of the contestants from ru Pauls drag race and I wasn’t in Hair and Makeup so they didn’t know it was me and they were COLD af.
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) July 3, 2018
“The funny thing is they actually presented my performance. But ladies it doesn’t take much to be nice. Eureka was the only one to hug me,” she continued.
The funny thing is they actually presented my performance. But ladies it doesn’t take much to be nice. Eureka was the only one to hug me. ??
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) July 3, 2018
Rexha elaborated on her experience saying that “They just were cold and didn’t talk to anyone like they were the shit. And they seemed exhausted, but try my schedule and let’s talk ladies.”
Eureka responded to Rexha tweeting “We love you!!!!! Trust me and we were so honored to announce you if anything we were a lil nervous and Anxious. I hope to meet you again so we can change this opinion. Love you.”
We love you!!!!! Trust me and we were so honored to announce you if anything we were a lil nervous and Anxious. I hope to meet you again so we can change this opinion. Love you ❤??
— Eureka! The ?? (@eurekaohara) July 3, 2018
Aquaria also replied directly to Rexha saying she was “mushy brained” during their interaction.
“I totally was so mushy brained that I didn’t realize until it was too late but lady you sounded INCREDIBLE in ur performances and I am living for the new album!!! Congrats and we need a picture next time,” Aquaria tweeted.
Rexha accepted the apology tweeting back “It’s okay sis. I get it. I was just really sad, cause I really love you guys, I just want to be you’re best-friend.”
It’s okay sis. I get it. I was just really sad, cause I really love you guys, I just want to be you’re best-friend. ? https://t.co/E7jy8481qX
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) July 3, 2018
However, in a Twitter thread Aquaria sounded off on Rexha slamming the “Drag Race” girls.
“We’re really just artists who were being swept through a crazy week in our lives where we nearly had a second to take things in,” Aquaria tweeted. “I don’t think any of us would intend to be rude or shady to any other performer and if people knew anything about us it’s that we are far more humble and real than anyone else would expect. Instead of being grateful and enjoying the night. We’re now on twitter complaining about the same thing everyone always tries to pit on drag queens that we’re stuck up bitches who don’t have time for the people who enjoy our work. We were all so impressed with the performances at the trailblazers and so grateful to be included.”
But that’s okay too! I don’t think any of us would intend to be rude or shady to any other performer and if people knew anything about us it’s that we are far more humble and real than anyone else would expect. Instead of being grateful and enjoying the night
— Aquaria (@aquariaofficial) July 3, 2018
Plenty of people won’t recognize us out of drag and I always used to witness this personally so I understand how miss Bebe may have felt but we aren’t nasty bitches. Did VH1 ask our clown asses to perform? Absolutely not. So you win. I was actually very happy to meet you and
— Aquaria (@aquariaofficial) July 3, 2018
Introduce u & really enjoyed your performance as well as the beautiful choir that was singing with you. Stop tryna do whatever Nicki Minaj is talking about and jumpin online and making us the bad guys. We love u babe. The kids love u. We’re not trying to be stuck up and rude
— Aquaria (@aquariaofficial) July 3, 2018
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)










a&e features
Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

























