'Drag Race' Winner Tyra Sanchez Announces Intent to Sue RuPaul, Michelle Visage and World of Wonder

James Ross, the drag performer formerly known as Tyra Sanchez and winner of season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has publicly stated that he intends to sue RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage and production company World of Wonder, alleging a years‑long campaign to damage his career and reputation.

Ross posted what he described as a “statement of claim” to his personal Facebook page in early January 2026, outlining prospective legal action and making the document public “in the spirit of transparency. ” In the post, he names RuPaul, longtime Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, and World of Wonder as defendants.

According to the text of the statement shared on Facebook and reproduced in LGBTQ+ and pop‑culture outlets, Ross claims he is pursuing damages for “intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false light, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage. ” The document alleges that, “for over a decade, ” the defendants collectively engaged in conduct designed “to discredit, disparage, and destroy” his professional reputation, and to incite “hatred, harassment, and ostracization” towards him in the entertainment industry and among the public.

The statement cites several examples that Ross characterizes as part of a pattern of reputational harm, including comments by Michelle Visage about Drag Race season two and references to him in later episodes of the franchise. In one cited incident, Visage is quoted from an interview saying she would have crowned fellow contestant Raven instead of Ross as the season two winner, which the document claims fueled years of harassment and blackballing.

Ross also points to the handling of a 2018 controversy surrounding his social media activity ahead of RuPaul’s DragCon. In that incident, he posted “Fair warning: DO NOT attend RuPaul’s DragCon on May 12, 2018. Don’t say I didn’t warn you” on Twitter, which was widely interpreted as a threat and led to police and FBI involvement as well as extensive media coverage. Ross’s statement alleges that World of Wonder filed a false police report about threats to “blow up DragCon, ” contributing further to what he describes as ridicule, harassment and threats of violence directed at him.

Another example highlighted in the document concerns a clip from a Drag Race season two acting challenge in which RuPaul appeared to slap Ross’s character, later recirculated on social media. After Ross made widely criticized comments online following the death of UK winner The Vivienne, RuPaul reposted the slap clip, which Ross’s statement characterizes as “targeted humiliation” and a “calculated provocation” intended to encourage renewed harassment.

The document further claims that Drag Race storylines referencing Ross over the years created what he calls a “pattern of defamatory storylines” that harmed his public image. Ross argues that, taken together, these incidents have caused severe reputational damage, emotional distress and economic loss, and says he is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as a declaratory judgment acknowledging alleged wrongful conduct by the defendants.

As of early January 2026, multiple outlets, including Attitude Magazine, The Tab and Star Observer, report that they have not been able to identify any corresponding court filings, and emphasize that Ross’s Facebook post outlines an intended or prospective lawsuit rather than a documented case already before a court. Commenters and some legal observers quoted by LGBTQ+ media have questioned the document’s legal formatting and language, noting that it appears unconventional for a formal pleading, though these are interpretations rather than court findings.

Ross’s relationship with the Drag Race franchise and its fan base has been strained for years, with media reports documenting controversies including his ban from DragCon following the 2018 posts and several arrests unrelated to the current claims. In more recent years, he has faced widespread criticism from within the LGBTQ+ community for comments made after the deaths of fellow Drag Race contestants The Vivienne and Jiggly Caliente.

For many LGBTQ+ viewers, the situation raises complex questions about accountability, mental health, and power dynamics in queer entertainment spaces, especially when conflicts play out publicly between a former winner and one of the world’s most influential drag franchises. While fans continue to debate Ross’s allegations and his past conduct, outlets report that RuPaul, Michelle Visage and World of Wonder have either declined to comment or had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.