Drag Race Down Under viewers share bizarre RuPaul conspiracy

Online conspiracy theorists are going to town with Drag Race Down Under as fans conjure up a shock theory about the show’s host RuPaul.

Viewers of the Australian version of Drag Race Down Under are questioning whether RuPaul was actually on set during filming in New Zealand.

Suspicion about the host’s presence was first noted by TikToker Amber Tara. In a video she shared to the social media platform, Tara questioned the editing, putting forward the idea that RuPaul wasn’t actually there with the rest of the cast during filming.

@thesaintamber

Watching Rupaul Down Under but I don’t think he’s actually down under. ##fyp##foryou##rupaulsdragrace##rupaulsdrageracedownunder

♬ original sound - Amber Tara

“I don’t think he’s actually there … So, who are they talking to when all this is happening?” Amber asked. “You’re speaking to a green screen?”

Other users have weighed in; with the likes of reality star Abbie Chatfield also claiming that there are no scenes where you see RuPaul alongside the queens and that the conversations appear scripted.

Fans are fuelling a conspiracy theory that RuPaul didn’t film Drag Race in person.

“So, I’ve clocked three times now, that queens have said, ‘I can’t believe I’m talking to RuPaul right now,’ and that to me says a producer has gone, ‘All right, so we’re gonna edit this for COVID.’” Chatfield claimed in a TikTok video.

@abbiechatfield

@thesaintamber YOU HAVE UNCOVERED SOMETHING. This will be many parts. Stay tuned. ##dragrace##dragracedownunder##rupaul##lies x

♬ original sound - Abbie Chatfield

She continued: “There are no scenes where you see queens with Ru, first of all, the responses seem like part of a script, maybe?”

As it turns out they’re not the only people who thought it. The story quickly gained traction online. One TikTok user commented: “I thought this too! Thought I was going mad.”

Another said: “I totally agree! The backgrounds they are using in his scenes are very Drag Race season 1.”

Someone else said: “It’s just a lower quality production.”

Taika Waititi is a guest judge on Drag Race Down Under. Picture: Caroline McCredie/Getty Images

To add weight to the theory, the guest judges didn’t film with the rest of the crew in person – Taika Waititi and the Minogue sisters all join the show via Zoom due to COVID border closures.

RuPaul also didn’t speak to any media or do any promotion for the season which was filmed in New Zealand. Co-host of the show Michelle Visage was spotted out while filming, sharing images to her Instagram earlier this year.

However, Art Simone, the second queen to be eliminated, tweeted: “Just here to quash the rumours that RuPaul was green-screened onto set. There’s no way we could have the budget after we splurged on those beautiful cement cherubs.”

Maxi Shield, Coco Jumbo, Art Simone, Jojo Zaho, Etcetera Etcetera, Kita Mean, Scarlet Adams, Karen From Finance and Anita Wigl’it at the premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under in Sydney. Picture: Caroline McCredie/Getty Images

Another eliminated queen, Coco Jumbo, appeared on The Kyle & Jackie O show this week, to quash the rumours, saying: “I saw her, I felt her and she was there 100 per cent.”