Eight years on from winning reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bob the Drag Queen’s (he/him, she/her) star shines brighter and brighter.
Most recently, she’s toured the globe as the host of Madonna’s Celebration world tour — capped off by performing to a crowd of 1.6 million in Rio de Janeiro — and is set to compete later this year in US reality hit The Traitors.
But first, the Georgia-raised, LA-based comedian, podcaster, rapper and activist is heading Down Under for the global debut of her stand-up tour This Is Wild!
ABC Entertainment caught up with Bob to talk Madonna’s tour, deranged TikTok content, how Kendrick Lamar won the feud with Drake, and a whole lot more.
You’re about to return to Australia. Where’s your favourite place to visit, and why?
I know this is odd — everyone always goes “what?” when I say this, but I really like Adelaide. It has a really cool bar called Marys Poppin, and the drag scene there is pretty vibrant and fun. I know most people say Sydney, but I like Adelaide. Isn’t that weird?
I met [fellow Drag Race queen] Mo Heart once and she told me Adelaide as well…
It’s the most welcoming place I’ve been for the queens who stop by. They really roll out the red carpet for you in Adelaide.
Back in the day, what was your MSN or AOL username? Do you remember?
I do and I’m not gonna tell you. I will NEVER divulge that information.
Fair! What micro-genre of TikTok video is on your For You page?
I’m in the part of TikTok where the Royal Guards’ horses are biting people at Buckingham Palace. If you stand too close to the horses, they will bite you. And I absolutely love it. It’s my favourite micro-genre on TikTok. For sure.
Uh, is it just videos of people getting hurt?
It’s videos of tourists. There’s a giant sign that says “Do not stand near the horses. They will bite you, they will hit you. Do not bother these horses,” and people just ignore it. They stand there anyway and then the horses bite them. Sometimes they get hurt, sometimes they don’t.
And honestly? I don’t care if they get hurt. Don’t bother these horses! The horses are already literal slaves to the Empire, forced to work, and getting paid in oats. Leave these horses alone! So, I don’t feel bad for the people who got bit by the horses.
What would young you think is deeply uncool about current you?
Jared, this is … I am young. What do you mean “young”?!
Of course. I’m sorry, what would young-er you-
There we go [laughs]. Ask the question again. I was so thrown off by that I couldn’t even listen.
What would childhood you think is deeply uncool about current, youthful you?
Being a big gay drag queen is something that seventh-grade me would’ve been like ‘That is CRINGE, everyone knows you’re gay? That’s crazy!’
But deep down, seventh-grade me would have been like, ‘That is the coolest thing that you’re so you, you’re so yourself. That’s amazing.’
What drag trend do you hope never comes back?
The minimal make-up — no make-up, flat flat wigs, wet hair, jeans, T-shirts. It’s not for me. I don’t find it particularly inspiring, if I’m going to be honest. And I feel like I can be honest with you, Jared.
What is your current obsession?
Right now, it is ‘Not Like Us’ by Kendrick Lamar. I listen to this song every single day, multiple times a day. It is the first time in the history of my Spotify I will ever have a straight cis man in my top artists of the year EVER. But this song is truly brilliant.
‘Not Like Us’ is a diss to Drake. It’s just truly a masterpiece, a masterclass in “fuck around and find out”.
You’re fond of a diss track yourself. What is your favourite lyric from your own music?
My favourite lyric is: “I went from rags to riches/by straight gagging bitches/if I’m on Twitter talking shit/then I am tagging bitches” [from ‘Bitch Like Me’].
I also love: “I take what I want/gimme gimme gimme/more late nights/than a n**** named Jimmy” [from ‘Bitch Like Me’].
The reason why I love those lyrics? Obviously, I work late nights — I’m a drag queen — but also there are two late-night talk show hosts named Jimmy: Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel. I don’t know many people pick up on that, but I’m really proud of that line, too.
What’s the best advice that Madonna’s ever given you?
Madonna has never given me any advice. That’s not part of our dynamic, offering me advice. I’ve learned lessons just from watching her and being around her, but she’s never been like, “You want some advice, kid?”
[But I’ve taken away that] she’s a really hard worker. I love how much she really believes in her art, what she puts out and onto the stage, and how much thought she puts into what she’s creating. She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in my life. Truly.
Your podcast releases episodes several times a week. Clearly, you’re a gifted gabber. What’s your go-to conversation starter?
If you want to have a really light conversation, I would say, “Which power would you want?” and I give them some options — but each one comes with a benefit and a detriment.
So, you can fly, but flying is twice as exhausting as running. So you can’t fly from LA to New York, and you also can’t fly faster than you can run. So it will take you like a week-and-a-half to get to New York and you will be completely exhausted just from flying one block. Or, you can be invisible. But as long as you’re invisible, when you re-appear, you are going to be completely unconscious for that amount of time. So if you are invisible for 20 minutes, you’re going to be completely unconscious when you’re visible for another 20 minutes. Which power would you take?
And if you want to have a much heavier conversation, I always say, “Would you rather live forever or die right now?”
That reminds me of when Reese Witherspoon tries to ask Nicole Kidman about her roles and she interrupts to say, ‘Do you think about dying, Reese?’ I think about dying all the time.’
Shout-out to Nicole Kidman! Nicole Kidman is an icon in America because of her AMC commercial. It’s her most famous work in America. This is the most famous film she’s ever made in America. And I’m not kidding. There is nothing she will be known more for in America than the AMC commercial.
When you’re sick or have time off, what’s your go-to comfort watch?
I don’t really like re-watching shows, there’s only one show I’ve ever re-watched: Breaking Bad. Other than that, I watch shows once and experience them for what they were — I’ll go back and watch the moments, and I’ve only re-watched Drag Race for work, to review it for a podcast or something. But I have a good memory. I’m like, “I got it in there. It’s in there. I’m good.”
But I do love making people watch The Color Purple. Introducing The Color Purple to people for the first time is just one of my favourite things to do. It is such a brilliant film.
What piece of horrible internet content is burned into your brain?
I often think about JoJo Siwa doing the ‘Karma’ dance. It is it has really taken over my life for the past couple of months. I absolutely love JoJo Siwa doing that dance. I went from hating it, to loving it, to needing it. I need this dance in my life.
Can we expect a JoJo Siwa medley on tour?
No medleys [laughs].
I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for 15 years now. I cut my teeth at Caroline’s comedy club, Comix comedy club, Gotham Comedy Club and more New York clubs for years and years — and the gay bars, too. The second-hardest place in the world to get a laugh is New York City and the hardest place to get a laugh is at a gay bar in New York City. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
Bob the Drag Queen: This Is Wild is at QPAC Concert Hall on July 8, before touring to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Quotes lightly edited for clarity and brevity.