Bob the Drag Queen, Peppermint Call Out Celebs Silent on Racism

With the recent deaths of George Floyd and Tony McDade at the hands of police, Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint took to YouTube and Twitter to call out celebrities who fail to publicly acknowledge that Black Lives Matter.

"It's human to be afraid of what the reaction is gonna be, and maybe deciding not to engage," Peppermint said in the video. "That's okay, and that's your right. But that's like saying, 'Hey, we would like everyone to pay taxes but just in case you're worried about paying taxes - you don't have to."

Bob echoed Peppermint's sentiments on Twitter.

"'I'm just not political' is so over," she wrote. "That time has passed. We need to hear your voices now. While you "find your voice" black people are being killed everyday. EVERYDAY. Trans people are being murdered back to back. It doesn't have to be poetry. Just sat it. BLACK LIVES MATTER."

Peppermint also used Twitter to call out artists who refuse to stand with protesters fighting for the memory of George Floyd.

"I follow lots of Queer 'artists.'" she wrote. "It bothers me the lack of public acknowledgement about what's going on here & right now. everyone isn't an activist. But even as artists if you aren't reacting 2 your surroundings & reflecting back. What R you doing? & what do you want out of it?"

Their messages come against the backdrop of nationwide protests over the past several days. While many celebrities and others have risen to support protesters with words and donations to cover bail and legal costs, others have remained silent. Judging from the comments, their followers agree that more needs to be done by fearful celebrities.

"There are so so many narrow minded and ignorant people, believing," one tweeted in response to Peppermint. That if it ain't happening to them it ain't happening at all. Be quiet close your eyes ears and mouth and carry on as 'normal' as you can..it shocks me. Discrimination and racism is an illness and the cure is us!"

@allanjpagejr on Twitter agreed with Bob and says that everyone, including white people, need to get involved.

"Black lives matter and I'm willing to put my white life on the line over it. Every white person needs to stop this "best not to get involved" mentality. Get the fuck involved. It matters. We have the privilege, use it to fight so others have that privilege too."

While protests escalate and spring up across the country, Peppermint made a final plea to those standing on the sidelines.

"All I'm asking is: can you help us? Living in that world where you can just not engage and still interact with the culture, in a way that you're picking and choosing, it shows a sense of callous."

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