Drag Race UK’s A’Whora says ‘horrific’ trolling left her unable to eat for days
"I don't think the fans understand it's a TV show."
By Will Stroude
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star A’Whora has become the latest series two queen to open up about suffering abuse on the internet, revealing that “horrific” trolling during early episodes left her unable to eat for days.
The Worksop-born queen, 24, opens up to Attitude and Jodie Harsh about her experiences as she appears alongside her fellow United Kingdolls queens Bimini Bon Boulash, Lawrence Chaney and Tayce on Tea Time in association with TAIMI, the LGBTQ Dating, Chat and Social Network App.
Drag Race UK eliminee Sister Sister previously spoke out about receiving abusive messages during her time on the show, urging people to “think” before they tweet at contestants, while it emerged on Friday (5 March) that Lawrence Chaney had deleted her Twitter account in the wake of this week’s episode, which saw her clash with fellow queen Ellie Diamond.
Asked about the trolling she received early on in the series, A’Whora says: “Mine was horrific from episodes one to three. I remember I was sat there like, not even being able to eat for two days because it was that bad.”
She continues: “But it’s one of those things that it takes time for people to understand who you are, and I don’t think the fans understand [that] it’s a TV show, there’s also an edit behind it.
Image: BBC Pictures / World of Wonder
“You can’t just, like, walk into a nightclub and expect to know every person at that nightclub just because you’ve seen them one time – you have to get to know everyone. I think that’s just what the fans don’t understand.”
A’Whora, who (spoiler alert!) became the eighth queen to sashay away from the competition on Thursday night (4 March), adds that although the public perception of her changed over the course of the series, nobody should be subjected to abuse online.
“Mine’s been a lot better now, especially since I showed a bit of vulnerability in episode four”, she says.
“But again, I think I shouldn’t have to show vulnerability for people to like me.
“If you don’t like me, just don’t say anything.”
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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK lands on BBC Three from 7pm every Thursday, available exclusively on BBC iPlayer.