RuPaul’s Drag Race star Raven addresses ‘Blackface’ allegations over dark-skinned appearance

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Raven pushed back against allegations of Blackface in a new interview.

Raven, 45, who competed on the show’s second season, appeared Thursday on the show Monét Talks, which is hosted by fellow Drag Race alum Monet X Change.

In the appearance, the TV personality spoke about pushback on social media from critics who say Raven has taken tanning too far, to a point of ‘Blackfishing’ the public in an effort to mislead.

Raven described Blackface as ‘white people putting on Black makeup … mocking and making fun of Black people.’

Monet X Change noted that Blackface was typically done in ‘spaces’ where Black people weren’t allowed to perform.

The Emmy-winning makeup artist, who is white, first dealt with the issue in 2002 when a confidante strongly advised not to do a planned drag tribute to Dionne Warwick out of concern it would be taken the wrong way.

Raven eventually scuttled the planned Warwick tribute on the advice of others, and never revisited it.

‘I understand the history and I understand what Blackface is – I would never do that,’ Raven said. ‘Have I worn afros? Yes, I have. You would be hard pressed to find a b**** that has been doing drag for – let’s say longer than 10 years – from any ethnicity that has not worn an afro.’

Raven continued, ‘And you didn’t wear it because you wanted to be Black. You wore it because why? Oh, I’ve got volume! I’m doing disco! “Ooh, yay, it’s fun!” – I would never do Blackface.’

Raven dismissed claims of ‘Blackfishing,’ saying it was a way for people to ‘stoke the fire’ of controversy.

‘Well, “Blackfishing” comes from catfishing, which means I’m trying to get you to believe that I am this – you know I’m not.’

‘And the thing is if I were going to be doing Blackface or trying to “Blackfish,” I would be doing this, I would go that color. I’m just going to give you a hint … I would go in – like, I’m gonna try and offend people and get all this Black-lash? No.’

Raven said friends were assuring that there was no ‘Blackfishing’ going on.

‘When that whole thing first started happening, I was like um … uh oh. And then I thought “Ooh,”‘ Raven said. ‘I remember talking to a couple friends about it, and they were like “That’s not what you’re doing.” I said, “I know that.” And they said, “Well, f*** them, who cares?”

In the appearance, the TV personality spoke about pushback on social media from critics who say Raven has taken tanning too far, to a point of ‘Blackfishing’ the public in an effort to mislead 

Raven chat with fellow Drag Race alum Monet X Change in the exchange 

Raven, seen in an Instagram selfie, competed on the show’s second season 

‘And I said, “But I don’t want to offend anyone.” And they were like, “You’re not doing … that’s not what you’re doing.’ And I said “OK.”‘

Raven said that despite the criticism about skin tone, ceasing tanning was not an option.

‘I will not stop tanning,’ Raven said. ‘A doctor could tell me you need to stop, and I’d be like, “Are you sure about that? I need a second or third opinion.”

‘I like being tan, and I need to make sure my foundation matches. I only paint from here up, so the rest of it, I’m that color. It don’t wipe off, it doesn’t come off.’

Raven in the appearance vowed not to stop regularly spending time in the sun and visiting nearby tanning salons.