‘Drag Race’ Producers Have a New Sense of Urgency Post-Election: ‘It’s Going to Motivate Us to Produce More’

variety.com:

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato were exchanging text messages early in the afternoon on election day. “Randy texted me an obscenity and said ‘We’re gonna lose,’ very early on,” says Bailey.

Barbato sent the message at 3:48 p.m. precisely. How did Barbato know, when most felt optimistic and almost certain that Kamala Harris would win the presidency? “I have been consumed with the punditry, and it just seemed like there was a disconnect between the mainstream media and people all over America,” says Barbato. “But, actually, it was this one thing where someone was saying it would be very unlikely she would lose Pennsylvania because there were thousdands of people on the ground.

And if 1,000 Trumpers came walking down my street to persuade me to vote for him, it’s unlikely they would change my mind.” He adds, “I think it’s super important not to demonize the people who voted for Trump.” The two sat down with Variety over Zoom to talk about what the future looks like for “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” World of Wonder, the projects they’ll produce and more. BARBATO: I went to bed very early, assuming we lost but with peace, because of my kids and because I realized I needed to be a role model and help them understand we move on with compassion and kindness and love and joy.

Fenton and I sent a note out to everyone at World of Wonder, thanking them for being so amazing and filled with gratitude for the world that we’ve built.