Culture

Your Fave Jeff Goldblum Is Under Fire For Remarks About Islam He Made On ‘Drag Race’

Dragged.

by Rebecca Shaw  26 April 2020
Jeff Goldbum

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Jeff Goldblum was a guest judge on the latest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and is coming under fire for some remarks he made about Islam. 

We are well into Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and a season which has been full of controversy has delivered yet again. During the latest “Stars and Stripes” themed episode, Iranian-Canadian contestant Jackie Cox walked the runway in an absolutely stunning kaftan and hijab in the colours of the U.S flag. As she walked, her voiceover pointed out that “you can be Middle-Eastern, you can be Muslim and you can still be American.”

When we heard from the judges panel, Jeff Goldbum decided it was the time to ask some questions. First he asked if Jackie is religious, and she replied no, but that the outfit was about the importance of visibility to religious minorities in America. Goldblum pressed further, asking about the religion in terms of being anti-women and anti-homosexuality.

His comments were criticised by many, some of whom thought that Goldblum should look in his own backyard first.

Other people wondered why Goldblum thought it was an appropriate time to delve into the topic, and why the awkward moment was left in the edit.

And why he thought it fell to him, a straight white guy guesting on a queer show, to bring up at all.

It was a roller coaster of a night for Goldblum, who later cried during a lip sync for your life to a Katy Perry song.

But the final emotional word can go to Jackie Cox, who talked about her experience as an Iranian in America, and what the recent political turmoil has felt like. “I’m here, and I deserve to be in America just as much as anyone else.”