Television
Y'all Won: Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman Is Leaving 'Canada's Drag Race'
The judge had a rough go on the series.
March 24 2021 6:19 AM EST
November 04 2024 9:42 AM EST
MikelleStreet
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The judge had a rough go on the series.
After a ton of speculation and spectator chatter, Canada's Drag Race has an announcement that some will rejoice in. After doing its first season with three co-hosts, the franchise has announced that it will only have two leads moving forward.
In a new chat posted to the show's Instagram account co-hosts Brooke Lynn Hytes and Stacey McKenzie discussed being excited to return to the series which was announced for a second season in January. Hytes called in from Los Angeles while McKenzie called in from Jamaica -- meaning that they are not in production for Canada's Drag Race currently.
"But with all good news there must be some sad news," Hytes said in the clip. "And unfortunately, our third will not be joining us this season and we are going to miss him so much. Jeffrey is filming his new show. He is busy and he is booked and he is getting paid. Unfortunately, with the scheduling things didn't work out for him to come back this season but he's going to be so missed."
"We love you Jeffrey!"
The pair promised to "get into some trouble" and bring a "bloodbath on the runway."
Chapman's tenure on the show was a contentious one. Many found issue with his lack of background in drag as well as his judging style, which was more of the Michelle Visage variety. Similarly, Visage was heavily criticized in some of her first seasons on the series but has since become beloved.
The criticisms, as often in the Drag Race fandom particularly around Black and brown folks, spiraled into hate and abuse. This led Chapman to leave Twitter all together and limit comments on his Instagram account.
While Hytes and McKenzie didn't specify what show they were referring to, in January Chapman was announced as a part of the Doogie Howser reboot cast for Disney Plus.
He has yet to comment on leaving Drag Race. The show is expected to film season two this year.
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Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.