Netflix fans demand for hit show to return after shock axing by streamer

Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race are demanding the show's full-time return to Netflix.

Nominated for 39 Emmy Awards and winner of 19, the hit show is a global phenomenon and pits the crème de la crème of the world's drag queens against each other to discover who has the necessary charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to win the title.

While RuPaul's Drag Race UK and RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Versus the World is broadcast on the BBC, the show's US version premiered on Netflix throughout its recent history. But sadly for RuPaul's Drag Race fans, the show announced in 2022 that it has now moved away from Netflix and was available on Wow Presents Plus, the streaming service, which costs £4.49 a month or £44.90 for the year.

UK viewers have been able watch series one to 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race on Netflix and specials including RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular, RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked!

However, Drag Race star Crystal Envy has weighed into the debate, asking X why the acts don't get the same amount of love online that they used to. "Honestly it’s really sad the girls don’t get the same engagement they used to… like most of our goals is 100K followers on IG. Yet just a few seasons ago the girls used to hit 100K within the first episode…. What HAPPENED?!?" she asked.

One fan responded: "PUT!! DRAG!! RACE!! BACK!! ON!! NETFLIX!!!" They went on: "That's how i even discovered drag race- because weirdly my first season was AS4 (i saw a compilation on youtube and was interested) and it was on netflix so thats how i watched!!!"

Another responded, writing: "Netflix please think of me and my college roommates who don’t want to get viruses from less than legal sites." A third person put: "I remember when all the seasons were on Netflix !!!! Like the Drag race marathons was a possible thing to do. I became a fan of queens that I wasn’t before."

The move was first rumoured seven years ago. "On the 30th of April 2018 RuPaul's Drag Race seasons 2-7 are going to be taken off Netflix. This is unacceptable," read a petition for the show to stay on Netflix at the time, which was signed by thousands of fans.

"RuPaul's Drag Race is a groundbreaking show which has not only opened up the minds of millions to new ideas, but also showed everyone who has watched this incredible show that it's okay to be who they are. "Without this show on Netflix the messages that it's sharing will be closed if to many who need it most. We need to stop this happening."

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