Kamala Harris’ ‘Drag Race’ cameo receives mixed reviews from viewers

Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first sitting Vice President to appear on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” delivering a get-out-the-vote message. The appearance, which aired during the season nine finale, received mixed reactions online. In her message, Harris emphasized the importance of fighting for rights and freedoms. “Each day, we are seeing our rights and freedoms under attack, including the right of everyone to be who they are, love who they love, openly and with pride,” Harris said.

Harris was accompanied by RuPaul regulars Michelle Visage and Jamal Sims, *NSYNC singer Lance Bass, “Ghostbusters” actress Leslie Jones, and “American Horror Story” actor Cheyenne Jackson. She encouraged viewers to vote, saying, “We are all in this together and your vote is your power. So please make sure your voice is heard this November and register to vote at vote.gov.” Jones added, “You betta vote!” before the group broke into a dance, with Harris laughing.

The cameo sparked diverse reactions on social media. Some praised Harris for connecting with her audience. One X user commented, “She knows her audience.” Another user said, “That’s herstery.” A third declared, “I just know that’s gonna piss off a lot of people … and I’m here for it.” However, others criticized the appearance. One user wrote, “This might have broken the cringe-o-meter … Wow.” Another expressed concern about Harris' alliances, stating, “I’m not saying give blind loyalty to Republicans but I hope my Black folks get a good look at who she’s aligning herself with. She’s not coming to save you.”

While Harris is the first sitting Vice President to appear in the werkroom, she is not the first political figure to make a cameo on the show. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2018 and 2022, delivering a similar voting message: “It’s very important for people to make their voices and their vote heard.”