Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Rupaul In His Own Words by RuPaul RuPaul: In His Own Words. Synopsis: RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, actor, model, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Since 2009, he has produced and hosted the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, for which he has received six Primetime Emmy Awards, in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. RuPaul is considered to be the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. In 2017, he was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2019, Fortune noted RuPaul as "easily the world's most famous" drag queen. (Wikipedia) Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Rachel Hinton and Helena Hunt, "RuPaul: In His Own Words" is an impressive collection of quotes has been carefully curated from RuPaul's numerous public statements including interviews, books, social media posts, television appearances, and more. "RuPaul: In His Own Words" provides a comprehensive picture of his decades-long career, his transformative effect on pop culture, and his wise perspective on identity, love, and life. Critique: Simply speaking, "RuPaul: In His Own Words" is essential reading for the legions of RuPaul fans and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community, college, and university library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated RuPaul fans that "RuPaul: In His Own Words" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.97). Now, for the first time, you can find his most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place. RuPaul's aggressive tirade in defense of the term "tranny" The "Drag Race" host calls critics of offensive language Orwellian oppressors. By Daniel D'Addario. Published May 27, 2014 3:31PM (EDT) Shares. After decades in the public eye as America's most famous drag queen, RuPaul has developed a strong set of opinions. And he (the pronoun commonly used in the press when describing RuPaul's offstage public pronouncements) isn't shy about sharing them -- or shaming those who disagree. "RuPaul's Drag Race," the reality-competition show RuPaul hosts on Logo, came under fire this past season for using "She-Mail" to describe messages from the host. ("Shemale" is considered a derogatory term for transgender people.) And RuPaul also courted controversy by remarking on Marc Maron's podcast that those offended by the use of the word "tranny" "are fringe people who are looking for story lines to strengthen their identity as victims." (For its part, Logo refused to broadcast "any anti-trans rhetoric.") Over the weekend, RuPaul accused those offended by his use of that term as well as "tranny" of operating in bad faith and policing his behavior in an attempt to become the oppressor, mocked the idea that the Logo network had distanced itself from his remarks, and joked about the concept of an LGBT community in the first place. RuPaul's points are well-taken: The host of a uniquely inclusive reality show may well have insights that those seeking to take offense are missing, and someone who's been on the scene for many years may know a great deal about the history of how words were used. However, those possibilities don't automatically mean that anyone who takes umbrage at RuPaul's terminology -- like the transgender former "Drag Race" contestant Carmen Carrera, who vocally criticized the "She-Mail" language earlier this year -- is attempting to become an Orwellian oppressor. That other people than RuPaul might be bringing their own experience to bear on how they experience language seems as though it hasn't occurred to the reality-show host. "Let this be a learning experience," Carrera had written; in blowing up and portraying any conversation about his use of language into a story of professional victims trying to tear down a successful star, RuPaul has managed to make an attempt at honest conversation into an all-out war. The LGBT community may indeed be a fallacy, but if it is, it's not solely because marginalized people attempt to make their voices heard about a small aspect of the career of a famous entertainer. On "RuPaul's Drag Race," RuPaul is an unquestioned near-deity, spouting truisms to adoring contestant/fans. But that's just a TV show; in reality, those in conversation with one aren't automatically deferential, nor can they be dismissed because they don't make an arbitrary standard one imposes. Daniel D'Addario. MORE FROM Daniel D'Addario • FOLLOW dpd_. Georges Lebar ( RuPaul’s husband) RuPaul’s husband was born on Jan 24, 1973, in Australia. He attended high school in Australia, but there is no information about his family background. The 46-year-old is the author of two famous books, Six Inches Way and PillowTalk, both published in October 2007. Georges Lebar is also a painter, but perhaps best known for being the husband of drag queen RuPaul. They have been together for more than 20 years, and his wife is known for being the producer and host of the reality competition series entitled “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. According to Affairpost, Information about Georges Lebar is very little, as he has lived his life without too much attention until 1994 when he was celebrating his birthday at a New York City club called the Limelight. This was the time that he and RuPaul met, leading to their eventual relationship. The two have stayed together ever since, but their relationship remained private due to conflicting opinions about gay couples in public. Marriage between men was also not widely accepted in the country during the time they started dating. While Georges focused on his painting career, his work as an artist never really took off, and he mainly stayed in the shadows while his partner continued with his success. RuPaul says that his husband is a “great guy” who couldn’t care less about showbiz. “ Most of the time he’s on the ranch in Wyoming ,” RuPaul explained. “ He has a 6,000-acre ranch, but when we have a chance to do anything, we want to go somewhere fabulous like Maui or New York because… God bless you Wyoming, but it’s very boring and the most isolated place on Earth.” While RuPaul likes publicity and social life, Georges LeBar prefers living a private lifestyle and is not active on social media. The author and painter are, however, supportive of his spouse’s career in the limelight. About Georges Lebar and RuPaul’s marriage. Despite their 13-year age difference –RuPaul was 34 at the time while LeBar had just turned 21– there were no doubts on either side. What they had experienced was more than a dance floor fling — it was pure magic. Magic that would lead to a lifelong romance, according to Goalcast. RuPaul has always been true to himself and over the years, he’s spoken publicly about finding the right relationship formula that works for him and LeBar, even if it may seem unconventional to some. As the Emmy winner told The Guardian back in 2018, their winning formula is all about trust — and freedom. “ If [LeBar] needs to do something else somewhere else, I’m fine with that ,” he said. “ He and I know that on this planet where there are millions and millions of people, the person I have found on this planet that I like the very most is him. And I know that for him the person he loves the most on this planet is me. I know that; there’s no doubt in my mind .” Asked about marriage in 2015, RuPaul told Buzzfeed: “ I don’t stand on ceremony, I never want to conform to anything… I never want to be like everybody else .” Explaining their change of heart, RuPaul admitted it was primarily a business decision, proclaiming, “ that paper doesn’t mean nothing… if you’re devoted to a person, nothing’s going to change that. ” More about Gerges Lebar’s husband: Andre Charles RuPaul. According to Wikipedia, RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag queen, actor, model, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Since 2009, he has produced and hosted the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, for which he has received six Primetime Emmy Awards, in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. RuPaul is considered to be the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. In 2017, he was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2019, Fortune noted RuPaul as “easily the world’s most famous” drag queen. He was criticized by environmentalists after revealing in 2020 that he and his husband lease mineral rights and sell water to oil companies on their ranch and allow fracking, an environmentally harmful practice. There are at least 35 active wells on the LeBar Ranch according to public maps. RuPaul previously held a climate-themed ball on his show to raise environmental awareness, leading to accusations of hypocrisy. He has described doing drag as a “ very, very political ” act because it “ challenges the status quo ” by rejecting fixed identities: “ drag says ‘I’m a shapeshifter, I do whatever the hell I want at any given time ‘.” RuPaul has said he has been sober from alcohol and mind-altering substances since 1999, having started smoking the good stuff at age 10 or 11. According to RuPaul’s official website, here are the most important key points to remember about himself: Born and raised in San Diego, CA. Moved to Atlanta, GA at 15 Studied theatre at the North Atlanta School of Performing Arts Lead singer of rock band Wee Wee Pole before moving to NYC mid-eighties Crowned The Queen Of Manhattan in 1989 Achieved international fame with hit song Supermodel (You Better Work) 1st feature film: Spike Lee’s Crooklyn Appears in more than 50 films & TV sitcoms Recorded a duet with Sir Elton John that reached #7 on the UK charts Awarded a 7-year contract as the first face of M.A.C Cosmetics Filmed 100 episodes of TV talker The RuPaul Show on VH1 NYC morning radio veteran: WKTU Currently hosts the podcast RuPaul: What’s The Tee? w/Michelle Visage Published two books: Lettin’ It All Hang Out & Workin’ It Singer/Songwriter of 14 solo albums including the latest American A wax portrait of RuPaul is displayed at Madame Tussauds Museum in NYC RuPaul pop up shop at Hollywood and Highland Merchandise includes apparel, accessories, fragrance, chocolate, and candles There are a series of dolls, statuettes and a Funko Pop in RuPaul’s likeness Host and Executive Producer of the world-wide hit reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race 1 million watched RuPaul’s Drag Race – Season 9 premiere The host of Skin Wars: Fresh Paint (GSN), Good Work (E!), and Gay for Play (Logo) Two-time Emmy Award winner: Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program Critics Choice Award winner: Best Reality TV Host MTV 2017 Movie and TV Award winner: Best Reality Competition Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2017 Cover of Entertainment Weekly June 2017 Cover of New York Times Magazine January 2018 Bad Robot / J.J. Abrams is developing a Hulu scripted tv series based on RuPaul’s life 75K people attend RuPaul’s DragCon annually A recent guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Hollywood Game Night, Project Runway: All-Stars, Ellen, Late Late Show with James Corden Portrayed Queen of Hearts in 2018 Pirelli Calendar Hollywood Walk of Fame star recipient March 2018 4+ million followers on social media Splits time between New York, California & Wyoming. Georges Lebar in his own words. Below is an excerpt from the bio page of George Lebar’s official website. I paint, plain and simple; my background is in fashion and design, studied in Paris, New York and most recently in Miami. My images are a reference from my history comparing it to the present, art is about exploring life for me. Blasphemous influences seem to surround me and press chokingly upon my senses. Microwave of mascara is a glimpse into the reality of our consumer society fighting the “green” effect, melding art, fashion, advertising, and commerce into a mythic narrative. Religion has always been physical, eating flesh, drinking blood, all in the name of redemption. Even our new Pope wears red Prada shoes under his robe. Churches have always been the greatest art installations, turning themselves into two- dimensional paintings — composed, positioned and bought. Side Note : I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness. Click here to see some of Georges Lebar’s artworks. What we recommend for Relationship & LGBTQ issues. Relationship counselling. If you are having relationship issues or maybe you are in an abusive relationship then relationship counselling could be your first point of call. Relationship counselling could be undertaken by just you, it does not require more than one person. LGBTQ issues. If you are dealing with LGBTQ issues then LGBTQ counselling may be a great option for you. Maybe you are confused as to your role and identity or simply need someone to speak to. LGBTQ counsellors are specially trained to assist you in this regard. Conclusions. RuPaul’s husband, Georges LeBar, has been with the LGBTQ pioneer for years. But he’s a private person who prefers to keep out of the spotlight that shines bright on the RuPaul’s Drag Race star. Please feel free to share any comments, thoughts or questions you may have, in the comments section below. “Lucky” by RuPaul. RuPaul’s Drag Race is a television show which apparently features transgenders, not transsexuals. The difference between the two is that a transgender is, say, a man who dresses like a woman, i.e. a “drag” queen. But a transsexual is someone who has actually undergone a procedure like gender-reassignment surgery or what have you in the name of internally altering their sex. So with that in mind, it immediately jumps out as being kinda odd, for lack of a better word, that RuPaul refers to ‘p**sy being on fire’ in the chorus. In other words, he obviously isn’t referring to his own lady part, since he doesn’t have one. Also he logically wouldn’t be referring to himself having vigorous sex with a woman – as such phrases are more commonly used in song – since he’s gay. But either way this “p**sy on fire”, perhaps of the audience themselves, is related to the addressee being “so lucky tonight”, as the title suggests, as RuPaul and co. are finna to put on a performance which apparently involves some impressive dancing and showmanship. With the subsequent initiation of the first verse via Gottmik it appears that the addressee, at least in his/her passage, would be a fellow transgender or perhaps females in general. And basically, what the vocalist is espousing, via dance, is the acceptance of one’s body image. Gottmik. Before the verse closes out, Gottmik does a little bit of braggadocio concerning his/her notable makeup skills. And concerning the aforementioned reference to “p**sy”, it should be noted that this particular vocalist is in fact a trans man. That is to say that unlike any other prior contestant of RuPaul’s Drag Race , he was actually born a female. Kandy Muse. Next Kandy Muse’s verse reads a lot like that being presented by your standard female rapper. That is to say that in addition to presenting him/herself as female, Muse also goes touting him and his as being superior to their female rivals. The third verse jumps off with Rosé actually referring to himself, or at least his past self, as a “little Scottish boy”. And he was in fact born in a part of Scotland called Greenock, spending his first 10 years there. But again, that is just a recollection or rather the premise for the artist’s personal come-up story. For coming from such humble beginnings, Rosé has since grown to be “the definition of the American Dream”. So yes, s/he is practicing some self-exaltation. In fact by this point, it’s pretty obvious that the lyrics of “Lucky” are primarily braggadocious in nature. Symone. And what the last vocalist, Symone, is most proud of concerning his/herself is his/her skills as a seductress – or “enchantress” as s/he puts it. Indeed, his/her cumulatively qualities consist of “fashion, beauty and the brains”, i.e. the complete package. So it’s like with this track being from an actual ongoing competition, it would appear that the vocalists are using the opportunity to extol their personal virtues in the name of securing the bag. It’s almost like that part of a beauty contest where finalists are afforded the opportunity to drop a short monologue, though in this case in a more self-centered and creative form. Conclusion. And at the end of it all, as stated earlier this is intended to make you boogie. In fact “you’re so lucky” to even bear witness to this musical cypher. So conclusively we can put forth that this is actually a dance song. It is a dance song with a braggadocious or perhaps even genuinely-competitive undertone. “Lucky” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” This track is from season 13 of a television program known as RuPaul’s Drag Race . RuPaul’s Drag Race is actually a long-standing, popular and award-winning competition, dating back to 2009. It centers around drag queens competing for cash prizes and other perks. And it is fronted by RuPaul, who can perhaps be considered the first overtly-transgender superstar in American history. Vocalists on “Lucky” The four featured vocalists on this track are also the quartet of finalists on the aforementioned season of RuPaul’s Drag Race . The song was actually initially together and apparently recorded prior by RuPaul, who holds down the chorus. Then the four of them were tasked to not only participate on the track vocally but also write their own respective verses. Writing Credits. As such, the four individuals are credited as co-writers. And they are in the persons of: Gottmik (L.A.) Kandy Muse (NYC) The Rosé (NYC) Symone (L.A.) RuPaul himself did not contribute to the composition of “Lucky”. Rather the additional two authors, Leland and Frederick William Scott, are also the track’s producers. RuPaul. Whereas RuPaul can be primarily considered an actor/media personality, she has also amassed a pretty-extensive discography throughout the years. She actually dropped over a dozen albums between 1993 and 2020. When was “Lucky” released? This song was released on 10 April 2021. That was the day after the airing of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 episode 14, upon which it debuted. Justice Is Served: A Conversation Between RuPaul and Judge Judy. Dress by ZALDY. Faux Fur Coat by ADRIENNE LANDAU BY SAULO VILLELA. Earrings from EYE CANDY. Vintage Bracelet from NEW YORK VINTAGE. Ring from NEIL LANE COUTURE. Vintage Gloves from PALACE COSTUME. Tights STYLIST’S OWN. Shoes RUPAUL’S OWN. “We’re all born naked. And the rest is drag.” Decades before building his own media empire, even before his reign in the 1990s as one of downtown New York’s most exciting nightlife queens, an 11-year-old RuPaul Andre Charles sat down at his home in San Diego, California, to watch Monty Python’s Flying Circus , when suddenly, everything clicked. The British comedy troupe was silly and liberated and contemptuous of the status quo, and, as Charles once told Oprah, “That’s what this is all about.” The “this” to which Charles was referring could be any number of things: his music career, which started in 1993 with the release of his debut album, Supermodel of the World ; his fashion career, which has included the launch of a unisex fragrance, Glamazon, and a longstanding relationship with MAC cosmetics; or his television career, made up of talk shows, a game show, and, most famously, RuPaul’s Drag Race , a groundbreaking reality competition series that has earned Charles four Primetime Emmy Awards and legions of fans, both from the queer fringes and the cultural mainstream. In truth, he was likely referring to all of those things and more—his podcast ( RuPaul: What’s the Tee? , with his close friend and fellow Drag Race judge Michelle Visage), his bicoastal conventions (RuPaul’s DragCon), and, coming soon, his scripted Netflix series AJ and the Queen , in which Charles plays an unconventional guardian to a runaway and which he co-created with Michael Patrick King , the man behind contemporary classics such as Sex and the City and The Comeback . As Charles told his friend and idol Judge Judith Sheindlin over the phone in June, “ Drag reminds people that all artifice is temporary—that all structures are just temporary, and the only thing that stays real is the energy.” That, and a healthy serving of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. Bodysuit by LIVE THE PROCESS. Vintage Earrings by LARRY VRBA from KENTSHIRE. Vintage Ring from PALACE COSTUME. Chokers (worn as anklets) by AREA. RUPAUL: You know, I’ve learned so many Yiddish words from watching your television program. One of them is a word that even a lot of people who speak Yiddish don’t know, so I’m going to ask you if I’m saying it correctly: geshikhte . I looked it up, because you once told someone, “Listen, I don’t need to hear a whole geshikhte story here.” JUDGE JUDY: It’s the difference between reading the Cliff Notes and having to read the whole book. RUPAUL: Am I saying it right? Geshikhte ? I have an app that gives me a Yiddish word of the day. JUDGE JUDY: Incorporating Judaism into your personality is maybe something you don’t need. RUPAUL: You know, it’s who I am. I love when cultures and words get mashed up. That’s what makes life interesting. The whole Andy Warhol aesthetic is about mashing up the old with the new to create an entirely new movement. What drag queens do is an identity mash-up. We are men who are doing this superficial, plastic feminine ideal. Drag reminds people that all artifice is temporary—that all structures are just temporary, and the only thing that stays real is the energy. JUDGE JUDY: It’s like having a white room and adding a splash of something that doesn’t belong. RUPAUL: It’s funny that we sat next to each other on that plane from New York to Los Angeles all those years ago. I’d been following you before that, but there was a similarity between us that could not be ignored. JUDGE JUDY: Who would have thought that 20 years later we would be sitting and having this conversation? RUPAUL: It really has been a fantastic journey. You know, if you live long enough, everything happens to you—the good, the bad, and the ugly. JUDGE JUDY: Maybe. I haven’t had too much of the bad and the ugly—knock on wood—but I did do my homework before this conversation, and I found out some things about you that, quite frankly, I did not know. JUDGE JUDY: For instance, I didn’t know that you got married, and that you and your husband had been together for 20 years before that. Tell me, is there a difference to you between living together and being married? RUPAUL: The difference is really minimal. I met Georges [LeBar] right on the dance floor at the Limelight disco at 6th Avenue and 21st Street on his birthday in 1994. We’ve had our ups and downs and everything in between, and there isn’t a person on this planet I like being around more than him. JUDGE JUDY: I didn’t meet my husband on the dance floor, I met him at a bar. I walked up to him and I put my finger in his face and said to one of the guys I knew who was standing there, “Who is this?” And he said to me, “Lady, get your finger out of my face.” [RuPaul laughs.] It’s so nice to have that comfortable relationship to come home to, even if it’s once every two or three weeks—because Georges lives in Wyoming, is that correct? RUPAUL: We see each other about every three weeks. But, you know, we’re adults. We can handle it. JUDGE JUDY: It’s nice to know that wherever you are, there’s that home anchor. Somebody who’s got your back. RUPAUL: Someone you know is going to be looking out for your best interests, no matter what. That’s really key. And if you actually like each other, even better. JUDGE JUDY: You can like a lot of people. The special part is when you love them even if you don’t like them. RUPAUL: It’s like traveling cross-country with someone—if you can still speak to that person at the end of the trip, you are friends forever. Dress by ZALDY. Ring (on right hand) from NEIL LANE COUTURE. Ring (on left hand) by AMWAJ. JUDGE JUDY: So you got married in 2017, and then, in 2018, you got a star on the Walk of Fame. That had to have been a sign that RuPaul had gone mainstream. RUPAUL: Well, my vision of drag is that we’re all born naked and the rest is drag. It’s kind of an existential vision, and it has to do with breaking the fourth wall and seeing yourself from outside of yourself. That’s my drag. But the drag that’s become popular with young people around the world is the surface part of the experience, like, “Oh, pretty makeup. I like her outfit.” So I don’t think drag itself has become mainstream. The superficial part of it has, but the deeper message, which is that we are all extensions of the power that created the universe, is the part that’s not there yet. But, you know, I’m from San Diego, and when I was a kid, we used to come up here to Los Angeles to visit my cousins, and I would always ask to be able to walk down Hollywood Boulevard because I was enamored of fame and all that jazz. As a kid, I knew that the true mark of a legend was having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I’ve been famous for a long time and I’ve had lots of accolades, but that was a really special one for me. JUDGE JUDY: Because? RUPAUL: Because it spoke to that little kid who still lives inside of me. You know, on my new show, AJ and the Queen , my character parents an 11-year-old child, so I was able to really emotionally revisit myself as a kid. It was a trip. I’ve never done anything like that before. It was the most challenging thing for me as an actor and as a human. The big thing for me is that I wish I’d learned how to process feelings earlier. The human body is kind of like a computer program, and a lot of the feelings that I felt were based on the experiences I’d had. Knowing that feelings are not facts was a message I wish that 11-year-old Ru had heard. As I’ve gotten to this stage in my life, I think being able to understand how fortunate you are is a great gift. I feel fantastic. I have my health. I have a good outlook. There have been some great achievements in my career and some really low lows, so I’m not afraid of them. I know that I have an ability to create magic because I have my health and I have an equilibrium. By the way, this is why I’ve tuned into Judge Judy every single day for the past twenty-something years, because it’s like going to the chiropractor to get an adjustment. It’s a reality check, and it’s a great tool for someone like me who’s super sensitive in a world that becomes so overwhelming. That’s why I tune in every day at four o’clock here in Los Angeles. JUDGE JUDY: Thank you for that. I will count you on my Nielsen ratings. Vintage Ring from PALACE COSTUME. Vintage Bracelet by SIMON HARRISON from KENTSHIRE. RUPAUL: I have a folder on my computer of pictures of people I admire, and there’s a Judith Sheindlin folder. One of those pictures is when you got your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. JUDGE JUDY: Merv Griffin was the person who spoke when I got my star, and he, to me, was the kind of person who had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—not some Jewish kid from Brooklyn who became a lawyer. For me, Ru, it was a little different because my childhood dream was not to be a star. From what I know about you, you always knew you were a star. The world just had to catch up. JUDGE JUDY: If I had to define you in two words, they would be “honest” and “flamboyant.” That’s who you are. The fun of you is who you are. And that’s why I think we like each other, because I, too, know who I am. Our messages are the same, really, which is that you have to really like yourself. RUPAUL: It’s the only game in town, honestly, because when you find your own rhythm, when you find your own frequency, that is your gift to humanity. It’s your life’s work. JUDGE JUDY: To be your happiest in this journey of life, which has a beginning, a middle, and an end. RUPAUL: That’s great advice for young people, because some days it’s easier than others to do that. You know, a lot of kids feel special, but they don’t have the critical thinking it takes to make that work in the real world. A lot of people think they’re the cat’s pajamas, but they haven’t put in the actual work it takes to really walk in those shoes. I see it on your television program all the time. JUDGE JUDY: People like order, and it’s difficult to always follow the rules, but most people do follow them because it’s the right thing to do. So when I see others doing the wrong thing, like throwing trash out of their car window or throwing their gum on the floor, it infuriates me. When I see something that has a negative impact on other human beings, I get furious. RUPAUL: You and I both. Not only is it disrespectful, but we can’t have a civilization without everyone pitching in. There are rules that I have chosen to break, but when it comes to civil liberties and people’s own pursuit of happiness, that’s when we have a problem. What do you think it’s going to take for people to gain back civility? Could it come back into fashion, like putting air back into a balloon? JUDGE JUDY: I don’t think it can. RUPAUL: Well, where are we going then? Catsuit and Belt by ZALDY. Vintage Earrings by NETTIE ROSENSTEIN from KENTSHIRE. Gloves by GASPAR GLOVES. Shoes by PLEASER. JUDGE JUDY: I did my first interview for 60 Minutes 26 years ago, and Morley Safer said to me, “What direction do you think it’s all going in and will it get any better?” And I said to him, “It’s going to get worse. A lot worse.” It’s like what you said before—you watch my program because there’s linear thinking. But there is an element of dumbing down that has been embraced by others, which suggests to me that these rules of civilization are being dulled. What do you think it’s going to take? RUPAUL: I think all of society would probably have to break down to real chaos before we can build it up. We used to control people with shame or with common sense, but the only way a kid is going to learn is if they run into something horrific and somehow fate teaches them a lesson. And I think that’s where we’re going. All this started when we got cell phones, and you’d be on the airplane and someone would take out their phone and start talking with this huge voice. And it’s like, “Uh, sir, we can all hear you, and not only that, but your phone is equipped to pick up your conversation even if you just speak at a lower level.” JUDGE JUDY: I’m not interested in hearing you talk to your girlfriend. Or your stockbroker. RUPAUL: Right, and America is still a young country. We’re like a teenager. After those world wars in the 20th century, people understood the value of peace and civility. Maybe it’ll take something horrible like that for people to get back to the basics of understanding that we’re all in this together. JUDGE JUDY: With social media, you don’t meet people like you met Georges at the disco, or like I met Jerry at the bar. You meet on a website and you scroll until you find a picture that looks nice and you click it. Then, even when you meet, you sit at a table and everybody’s on their phone. I think it’s one of the advantages of us getting old. RUPAUL: God forbid, if anything happens and the electrical grid goes down, those people are in for a rude awakening. We’ll have an advantage. How are you able to not just be in constant anger at how the world is today? At how people are not paying attention? Here in Los Angeles, people don’t even stop at stop signs anymore—they come barreling around the corner without stopping. JUDGE JUDY: I think it comes from a place of just being grateful. I have a family that I adore. I have a career in a profession that I love. It’s the same with your success—you worked hard for it, you have tremendous talent, and you deserve it.