Lizzo Brings Drag Queens Onstage in Defiance of the Tennessee Drag Ban


At a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Friday night, Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens as a glittery protest against the state’s law that limits drag shows in public.

The “Juice” singer, who won a Grammy for the song, brought out Aquaria, Kandy Muse, Asia O’Hara, and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo during her show at Thompson-Boling Arena. On Saturday, Lizzo posted videos from the show on Instagram. Some of the comments she made to the crowd were about the upcoming rule.

In February, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed a law that says “adult cabaret” can’t be performed in public or front of children. Late in March, a federal judge put the law on hold because he thought it was written too loosely. Civil rights groups have said that the rule hurts the right to speak freely.

The Tennessee law is part of a larger attempt by Republicans to stop drag shows and other public events for LGBTQ+ people.