February 13, 2021
Listen: Don't Expect Bob the Drag Queen on Andy Cohen's Show Anytime Soon
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Does Andy Cohen treat drag queens like props?
That is what Bob the Drag Queen says on the podcast "Hot Takes and Deep Dives" in a quote reported by Showbiz CheatSheet.
"Caldwell Tidicue, who takes on the persona of Bob the Drag Queen, recently revealed that drag performers are only invited on '[Cohen's 'Watch What Happens Live!'] to essentially become d�cor," writes Showbiz CheatSheet. "The last time Tidicue was on 'WWHL,' he appeared as Tina Turner because Angela Bassett was a guest on the show. He recounted the experience, insisting it would be the last time he would do drag on 'WWHL.'"
On the podcast he takes Cohen to task for using drag queens as props; having them dress like female guests. He recalls being asked to dress like Tina Turner when Angela Bassett was on. Bassett's break-out role was her Oscar nom-turn as the singer in "What's Love Got to Do With It" in 1993.
"It would be like if we all dressed like 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown.' Even Angela Bassett was like, what the fuck.. she didn't say anything. She was too classy to say anything," Bob said.
In this compilation of scenes from "WWHL Drag Queen Show," there are numerous examples of Bob the Drag Queen's contention as celebrities (Christina Aguilera, Carol Burnett, Goldie Hawn, Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker) sit with Cohen and have drag queens appear dressed as them.
Bob the Drag Queen's full-text is below:
"I've done' Watch What Happens Live.' I was on with Kathy Bates and I dressed up like Tina Turner because Angela Bassett was on. They had drag queens dressing up like Tina Turner because Angela Bassett was there. It's usually like Kathy Bates throughout her film career, or Nene Leakes on different episodes. When Angela Bassett was there they had us dress as this one character she played, in one movie. which was really odd. It would be like if we all dressed like 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown.' Even Angela Bassett was like, what the fuck.. she didn't say anything. She was too classy to say anything.
"I remember leaving saying I'd never do it again. You are a prop; it's not about celebrating the drag queen. If you're going to have Nene Leakes on your show and then have these drag queens dress up as Nene Leakes, that's cool, I guess, but I think there are lots of drag queens who also deserve to sit in that seat. So, when you are a prop you're kind of treated like a prop. You are literally standing in the corner.
"I wouldn't even do a bartender. I said I would never go back on that show unless I'm sitting in a chair. If I'm not sitting in the chair and Anderson Cooper or Andy Cohen is talking to me, I'm not going back on that show. They've asked me to impersonate other celebrities and I was like no thank you. Maybe it's my ego, but I'm not going to go dress up like Nene Leakes after winning RuPaul's Drag Race. I'm not going to do that."
