ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I noticed something was up when you began posting photoshoots of yourself out of drag.
So,the bag lookfinally got to you enough that youre quitting drag?
LALA RI:I cant take it anymore, solely due to the bag look.
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star Lala Ri quits drag.Darius Voncel, courtesy of Lala Ri; World of Wonder/Paramount+
Thanks, bag look.
In all seriousness, youre fully quitting drag?
How can I put this?
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star Lala Ri addresses quitting drag.Pierre Richard Louis, courtesy of Lala
Im removing myself from the dragcharacter.
Im basically removing the drag essence.
Id like to be considered a queer artist more than just a drag queen.
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star Lala Ri.Darius Voncel, courtesy of Lala Ri
What inspired this choice?
Its something Ive wanted to do for a few years.
I never intended to have a full-fledged drag career.I was pushed into doing drag.
I never wanted to do drag for myself.
I was already in the entertainment industry as a dancer and choreographer.
I was doing music before drag.
Drag was just a different outlet for me to perform.
It blew up, I got onRuPauls Drag Race, and it took off from there.
It was like, I guess Ive got to stick with this for a while.
I was going through a depression stage at that time about doing drag.
Thats how deep it was for me.
I didnt show it.
Its been going on for years.
I feel like I was doing drag for everybody else; I wasnt doing drag for me.
It takes so much confidence to stand in whats right for you versus something people expect.
Can you elaborate more on what you said about joiningAll Starsand the depression this led to?
It was more of an internal thing.
I felt like I was getting lost behind the drag.
Everyone was so focused on the outrageous comedy aspect of it, but I take art very seriously.
Sometimes I feel like people dont take drag queens seriously as artists because its dress-up for them.
BeforeDrag Race, I was already an artist in the industry.
How do you want people to view you now, as an artist?
I want them to still see that Im an entertainer, more so focused on my music.
I never really pushed my music because I didnt want to be considered a drag queen music artist.
I feel like I was making music to satisfy the drag community.
As you’re able to see, Ive been posting on social media.
I enjoy my boy vibe way more than my drag closet.
Does this meanShari Colemanis dead?
I would pull her out, because I like her.
Shes the only one.
I do enjoy her, okay?
I never had an issue with people calling me he/him in drag.
I actually had an issue with people calling me she/her.
Being called she/her was an issue obviously, I didnt say anything, but he/him are my pronouns.
Darius Voncel, courtesy of Lala Ri
Are you still going to use Lala Ri as a stage name?
I want to keep my name.
The Lala Ri Experience is still here.
Its going to be better, now!
I still do have drag shows that I have to complete coming up.
Now that youve left drag, is theretea fromAll Stars 8youd like to reveal?
Drag might be left behind, but that NDA is still here.
Thats the real tea.
I feel like duringAll Stars, I talked about all the good tea I can remember.
Time moves so fast.
Nothing has been left out aboutAll Stars 8.
What ifDrag Racecalls forGlobal All StarsorVs.
Its so funny you say that.
Last week, I got a phone call and I turned it down.
It was for quite a few things.
Im leaving it behind.
I [obviously] enjoy the show, its super fun to be on.
The first-ever narrator-only, non-contestant.
Id watch the s— out of that season.
If I could just narrate the entire season, sign me up, honey.
Were going to put that into the atmosphere.Drag Race, Im available to narrate!
Im available for hire!
Id love to judge out of drag.
What does the future of the industry look like to you?
Weve always come out on top.
As long as we stick together, the future will be bright.
Of course theres a fight ahead.
It will definitely be a fight a big fight.
Life is going to be great for us if we stick together.
Weve got to put on our boxing gloves, honey.
