The Comment Section with Drew Afualo - I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOO MUCH Ft. Sasha Velour

Episode Date: July 10, 2024

This week, Drew welcomes living legend Sasha Velour to the show to talk about why terrible men on the Internet hate musicals!! Sasha teases her own new drag musical, and they talk about why famous people are weird, bad acting, theater kid culture, Drew being forced to sing acapella for an audition, and so much more! Drew: linktr.ee/drewafualo Sasha Velour: IG / TikTok For sponsorships/partnerships, email [e-mail]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're not weird and creepy, like you have no intensity to draw on to be interesting. Exactly. That's my point. I'm like, you would be shocked. Like, I was like, the way some of y'all would be shocked to meet famous people and see how normal and weird they are. Yeah. Like, in a normal casual setting. Like, any award shows, like, and all those part of girl. Awkward. Especially when you see them in, like, casual settings.

If I sent this to Dumois, she would have a feel day. Oh, okay. now. Hey, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the comment section show. Sorry, me, your favorite. Everybody knows me. Who cares about me? On to the guest.

Today, we have the iconic, the legendary, the wonderfully amazing, Sasha Valor. Woo! Hello. Thank you for having me. Thank you for those extravagant adjectives. I don't deserve any of those. Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

Back at you, queen. I guess everyone that comes on the show. I'm honored to have you. You're a ledge. A living ledge. A living ledge. Not for very much longer. stretching it out

you're clawing your way back I'm so excited to have you it's truly a privilege I am so honored every time I have one of my favorite drag queens on the show yeah you know we're keeping tabs on you

we gotta keep coming back in to check up we have our side chats so we're like you have to go visit her yeah collecting all the infinity stones yeah we're collecting you

all one by one I just got one for each finger all my favorite queens but I'm so happy you're here What color am I? What color is my gem? Ooh, let me think. I think I'm going to say red because I'm thinking of your iconic, so emotional Whitney Houston performance and the season finale.

So I'm going to say red. That's my favorite color. You were just talking, I'm all water signs. Oh my God. I love my fire colors. I'm literally so fucking psych. It gets crazy. That's me being a Virgo.

But I'm so happy to have you. Welcome to the show. How's life been for you lately? You're busy. It's been wild. You're a busy girl. It's pride season. The month when I work.

You know, I'm just kidding. The one month you work. I work you around, but it gets really intense in June. I know. I feel so bad for all of you during pride. Oh my gosh. They have you working like dogs, girl. Yeah, we love an outdoor daytime gig.

Full drop. Yeah, you know it. It's my dream come true. So you're busy working. It's Pride month. And thank you for letting me come as my... Come as you are. As my mole self.

I appreciate it. I said, come as you are. I just arrived. My altar call, it's just however you choose. to be. I love that. Well, this is, I guess, the choice I made today. Your hair and makeup team got me together. Well, not the hair, obviously. I was going to say, vampire, thanks to Brittany. Thank you. And you just finished filming your season of, we're here.

Yes, we're here season four. I joined the cast before it was Bob Changelina and Eureka. Yeah. And they brought in four new queens, me and Priyanka and Jada Essence Hall. Love. And LaTrice Royale. Of course. The Diva. And how was that? It was great. They just put us in places where what we were doing was illegal, face-to-face with conservatives, telling us they were corrupting the country and the youth,

and then we got to stand up for ourselves. Which is kind of a fantasy, because it's like you get tired of seeing it online and being like, Well, I know you're not this way, but I'm like, don't engage with the haters online. But I, you know, we all have that drive to like, bite back and stand up for the truth. Yeah.

Because they're spreading lies. And past that too, it's like you never really get those opportunities in person because you don't run in the same circles. Like you'll never see each other as far as like you're not going to hang out or like see each other. Hell no. Yeah, in local spaces like you're never going to run into each other. So it is truly a chance for you to be able to like speak your mind in a safer environment. We're there like mentoring drag kids who do have to see these people and like share space and grow up in that area and like remind them that they do have the power to speak up to. people that they're going to see again and like in their community like you don't need to let that

silence you that fear absolutely or alter how you see yourself or what you choose to pursue in life because obviously I've told a lot of the queens too that have come on the show too like drag has been around forever which we all well most of us know but um for some people it's like brand new like it's just something they they just saw because now because of ruPaul's drag race it's been so like mainstream which is a beautiful thing because more eyes on it means more understanding, but it also means more criticism from horrible fucking people. So how has that been for you as far as like drag becoming more mainstream lately? As far as like how you operate in the industry, seeing new up and coming people who want to be in drag. It's exciting. Yeah,

everywhere you look, someone's doing that. Like, please stop. There's too many already. There's so many of us already. You know, but every time there's new people welcomed in, it's like it forces all of us to up our game and the more people know about drag just. the more love there is. Yeah. I feel like people's excitement in drag helps them, around drag, helps them like be cool with queer people in real life. Totally. Yeah.

It's like, absolutely. Maybe it starts with just, oh, that's so entertaining. But then, you know, we're queer looking people. And we have to get used to seeing us in the world because we're, to quote the show, we're here. We're not going anywhere. And have been forever. You don't need to be frightened of us.

Absolutely. Yeah, in my show that I've been touring, because I wrote a book about the history of drag called The Big Reveal. Oh my gosh. How excited. after, you know, I do some reveals. And I've been doing this show about it, and I play footage of these, like, World War II drag shows that they would do on U.S. Army bases that they consider, like, the height of patriotism, like a drag show. To prove to everyone, like, you say, this has been around forever.

It's nothing new. It's been accepted before, too. Absolutely. So I don't know what is up with the backlash. I think they just want attention. Totally. They're jealous. Yeah, they're jealous.

And we need to show them. like to get attention, you need to do something to deserve it, something fabulous, something memorable and iconic, and that's not what we're seeing. Yeah, why don't you get into it, girl. Exactly. Exactly. Hello. Hello. I think, too, I would love to, if we will backtrack a little, how you got into drag and, like,

what drew you to it in the first place, like, why that specific art form and then like how you kind of came to be Sasha Valor. It's a little cringy, but the Stonewell riots got me to be a drag artist. Really? I'm not that old, but I was doing my good, like, coming out research and learning about the uprising. I, now everyone's like, you know, a drag queen started the stormo riots. I had never heard that before. I didn't know there was anyone other than, like, white gay men there.

Because that's kind of how it had always been presented. And discovering that it was, like, it was trans people. Yeah. It was people of color. It was, like, unhoused people. Yeah. People who weren't even allowed in the club. Yeah, it's very, like, whitewashed the version we learn.

Yeah. So I was reading, like, Sylvia Rivera's story about it and realizing, okay, drag's like not just about dressing up and feeling your fantasy, although it definitely is that. Yeah, that's part of it. It's also a being really loud for the community. And, like, activism is about taking big risks and big swings. So is art. Yeah. Put them together.

And you've got something gorgeous. Love. And then then I learned Sylvia and Marsha B. Johnson maybe weren't even at Stonewall. They just made up that story. Damn. Because they wanted to, like, preserve the right legacy about it. It had been co-opted by other people. Totally.

And so I'm like, that's like, that inspires me about drag. Like, it doesn't have to be 100% true. It doesn't have to be 100% real. As long as it represents the true truth. Yeah. You tell that story. Yeah, the messaging was real and always has been real. And it's also very important, I feel like, to continue the legacy regardless of who's

carrying the torch as long as it's being carried, which I think is a beautiful thing, too, just be like, as long as you tell the story. And isn't that what drag's about? Yeah, totally. Who cares what's real? Like, this is about truth. So when was your first time ever really trying drag that you can remember?

Okay, so first time I went out in drag was in my hometown of central Illinois, a town called Champaign Urbana. Oh my God. And I was, it sounds like a made-up name. It does sound made-off. It's in the cornfields. And I like, I had a fake ID

and I went to the club. Thankfully, I didn't match the idea anyways because I painted so ferociously. And I was really nervous and I went up to the drag queen host and was like, I went in full drag and then was like, how can I get up on stage? She was like, well, it's not happening tonight

because we have a whole plan. That's not how we work. But I went back like a week later for their open drag night and entered the competition and I got second place. And I got a booking out of it. My first paid booking of $25, which actually covered what I had spent on the outfit because it was that bad. You're all actually profiting.

Yeah, I was profiting. And just kept going from there. When I moved to New York, I was 19 years old. Oh, wow. That was two years ago. Thank you so much. Oh, my gosh. Now you're 21.

Exactly. Oh, my gosh. Freshly 21. Freshly 21. And then you moved to New York. kiss because I am so old. Doing drag for 10 years, you become a legend whether you like it or not. It's just so hard to make it and keep going.

I think you're like, wow, you never gave up. You also look incredible. You do not look old by any stretch. And I'm not just saying that. I'm very honest and very mean to my drag friends. The products are working. I actually think scraping off my face like every night and then painting back on. It's good for the skin.

I think so. It's like shedding a snake skin. They say Marilyn Monroe like shaped her entire. face as like an exfoliating thing and I mean I have to do that but but it's a beauty true okay beauty noted noted so then you moved to New York did you like go to college in New York or did you just go straight into working I went to college in upstate New York okay I'm in Poughkeepsie New York and then I went to a art school program because I was like I'm not like a theater comedy music person I was like I want to sit in a dark room and just like

draw pretty things. Love. But in rural Vermont, where I was in art school, I started, like, walking around in drag and hosting, like, drag-race viewing parties for all the people in town. And then I kind of, like... Was it easier once you got over there, obviously, in, like, New York, Vermont area? It was. Yeah, to be able to, like, be in drag.

And it was, like, the fresh start of having no family, no connections. I didn't know anyone, so I could, like, invent a new self and drive. A drag queen was who I wanted to be. And how was it like when you were coming? So you came up in New York first and then that's when you auditioned for Drag Race. I auditioned for season eight of Drag Race. Very not prepared. So I'm glad I did not get any callbacks for that one.

And then season nine, I had like been running this show for a while. I auditioned with my iconic Gollum Snatch game that then I wasn't allowed to use because it's a copyrighted character. I was going to say it was a copyright. Oh, so I just scramble. but obviously that worked out period well clearly right how was your experience on drag race I always ask the queens they're always like Bianca was like it's like I was like I've heard

it's kind of like American Ninja Warrior but you have to like know how to sew and sing and entertain and tell jokes and all of that yeah and you have like no one to talk to you just go back to your hotel room and spiral looking in the mirror I loved it that's my cup of tea that's what Sasha Colby told me she's like I I loved it

I was like oh yeah because you guys both won and I was like I told there I was like I've had a lot of losers on the show maybe that's why they didn't like it so much yeah they had to win all stars in order for it to be fun

right exactly I think it's less fun the second time I imagine that's what Tracy told me she said all stars is harder yeah she was like because everyone's rich and famous and like has a lot more at stake yeah there's like they have way more

resources. Yeah, I had nothing to lose. I was absolutely no one with garbage drag, as everyone who's watched season nine knows. I only had things to gain from it. And so how has it been now that you're like, now that you won drag race and you are Sasha Valor, like, how was the transition into like just entertainment as a whole? Was it like easier than just doing like, you know, the shows in drag or was it a little bit harder, a little bit more of a balance? Ooh, that's interesting. Yeah. I'm still figuring it out. Really? Do you have advice?

No, girl, you've been longer, around longer than me. I was gonna ask you for advice. You wrote a book, you're doing a show. I've just really stayed in like my own lane. Yeah. In a way. Like, I'm interested in doing the things I'm interested in.

Totally. And I'm just like, I'm hustling to keep doing it. Like, I love doing my stage shows. Yeah. And getting a tour all over the world with them. Totally. There's a TV project that's like really exciting to me.

Like we're here. I was literally like banging on their door asking to be included. Um, And I don't know if I've figured it out what I'm doing yet. I'm just like being, doing it my way. Just having fun. I'm having fun. The beautiful thing about it is that because drag is so popular now in like

mainstream entertainment culture, it's made it a very viable possibility for people to like make money off of it because for the longest time it was just like, this is something I just love to do and I don't get paid to do necessarily. Like you'll make money here and there, but it wouldn't be like the full blown career could be now. Yeah. Which I think is really fucking cool. like so many of you can are so beloved now by people outside of the community that we can like see you as entertainers now not just drag leads that's awesome yeah I wish we would learn how to like

run businesses now because that's surprisingly required I have made some big mistakes just like your old turns out just like my first year I was like I'm making money I'm gonna buy costumes and then it just sort of all balanced out just level up your drag every single time started over again how was the reaction been like or how was the reaction like from your like close friends and family like when you were first in drag versus like now you do this for a living was it like somewhat positive or you don't have to talk about it you know no i'm just like what what is it yeah my my family is they're they're proud oh it's good i'm so glad i'm lucky to have like my grandma was always like

dressing me up in drag when i was a little baby so it's honestly like her spirit is looking down on me being like more more sequence that was her favorite thing costume jewelry um my mom passed away before i like really got into drag she saw the very beginnings of it and she was like very nervous about everything so often i'm like i'm glad she sometimes i'm glad she wasn't like here to watch all that because she'd be so nervous that that would like freak me out yeah yeah um but my my dad just is like blissfully into it which i love that's oh that's so so And then my drag friends, I've like, my closest drag friends who got me started in New York, like, they are still part of my family. They're part of every show that I do.

Like, when I got my TV show produced about my drag show nightgowns, like they were the stars of it. And actually, Sasha Colby and I go back to that time period. I got to put her on TV before drag race. Period. My fucking girl. Well, not TV, but Quibi, short-lived. It's available on Roku now. Hey, still on TV.

I got a Roku. Hell yes. The reason I was asking is because I was curious on word here, obviously, no spoilers, but how was it like mentoring young kids who are looking into drag or they really want to do it and they're just feeling a little unsure or afraid, which is natural given the climate,

but how was that for you? It was amazing. Like I've always said I don't want drag children. Now I'm stuck with them. It's amazing. I thought I had like nothing to offer, truly. That's why I was like, I'm still figuring this out. Like, we can be siblings and figuring out together.

That you feel that way. But then I was like, actually, that's like, that's kind of good parenting too. To be like, I don't know what I'm doing. We're just, I'm going to support you to find your own way. Yeah. Like, I'm not going to tell you how to do it. My way. Yeah.

Because that's probably, you're probably going to hate that if I do that. And everyone really did come in with their own sense of what their drag would be like. They just needed someone to say, yes. like validate them. And then also, you know, not just that. I did have to teach them how to like, walk and how to like make eye contact right. I did have nothing.

I did have some notes. You know. But I think that's a beautiful thing that you were able to, even like I think openness and vulnerability like by itself is inspirational to young people who are coming up in drag, but you being just honest about like this is what I'm doing, but I'd love to help you find your path. It's a beautiful thing.

You don't have to have all the answers. to inspire kids. Exactly. And I think it's great. It's all about taking risks. Absolutely. Encourage, making people feel like safe enough to take big risks.

Absolutely. And now that you've been doing this for a while now, like how has social media been for you? Like, do you get any hate on social media? I'm sure you do. I get a whole bunch of standard stuff, I'm assuming. I'm always like, is it like the welcome package they typically give you, which is just like bigotry. Yeah. Lots of bigotry.

Yeah. But even, sometimes even from people who you're like, you should. should be supporting queer people. Yeah. That's ugly hair. Like, she's so boring. I know. You know, I can't win everyone over.

Yeah. You're all, even one of my own. Want to try. It's the same thing. That's the cancer in you probably. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That's the same thing with me when I have women who hate on me.

Yeah. It's very like, I'm on your side. Right. We're on the same team, girl. Like, I've got your back. Yeah. I got your back, but you don't have mine, apparently. Isn't that life?

That's, it's like. It's always like, that's the only kind of hate I've told people is that actually kind of bothers me. Yeah. It's when it's coming from inside the house. I'm like, that sucks. Like, we're on the same side. I expect that from awful straight men. Hello.

I don't expect that from one of my peers. And then you like, you want to, at least I always want to like take it serious and be like, oh gosh, do I need to consider this no. Yeah, from people like that in my communities. Yeah. That's the only kind of hate that I actually sit with if it's valid, if it's not based in anything. Right. It's not really. But even criticism about like your looks and stuff,

you're like the looks you serve, you're kind of like, girl, come on. As long as I love it. Yeah. It's when I don't love how I looked, but I'm like, you're right. You found me out.

I did look bad. And you lash out. Yeah, that's what I really laugh at. You're like, okay, whatever. It's so funny. I got a comment the other day on one of my videos, and it was from a person that loves me. Like, they're like a fan of mine,

and they were tagging their own friend. And they were like, yeah, I don't know if she used to do lashes different or something. Like she used to have a really bad lazy eye. And she, but she does not have that anymore. She looks great.

And they weren't even talking to me. Like they were tagging their friends. Like I can see that. And I was like, first of all, deleted that comment, rude. Second of all,

I was like, you're right. I have done my lashes different. And yeah, they do look better. But that's besides the point. You don't need to tell me that bitch. Like I already fucking know.

But I was like, she hit me because she's right. But that's why I was like, still. You don't need to be. It's always from your own. family that it hurts the most. That's what I'm like, wow, you really, you really see me, but too well.

Yeah, but pipe down. Relax. I know when you were saying, it's when I know it wasn't my best. I'm kind of like, damn, you're right. I feel that. I've had that too. We like to be gassed up even when it's not, like, lie to me. Totally there.

Yeah, a little lie. Sometimes when I'm promoting stuff I'm doing, I'm like, and if you don't like it, don't tell me. Yeah. Just don't let me know. Yeah. It's okay. Just don't tag me.

I don't need to see it if you don't like. your friends. Talk shit on me in private. Yeah, exactly. Not online, please. But this is actually a perfect transition into our topic because we're talking about terrible men online who hate musicals and think theater and actors are like too much, which you were just telling me about your show.

So like, you said you weren't really a theater girl, but now you're doing a show. I became a theater girl. Yeah, I was going to say. Yeah, so how did that come to be? Well, I've always been too much. So, in my own ways. Oh, yes. You and we both?

Um, so yeah, I just like, I love, I love putting on a drag show. Totally. Love the reveal. Love like the stagecraft. Love like seeing the audience live in front of me. For me, it's like so much more fun than filming a TV show. Oh my gosh. I know.

I can't even imagine, especially with your, with your iconic like so emotional lip sync. Yeah. That's a reveal. Oh, yeah. I try to like, my challenge is to always deliver on stage like period. 10 times better than that. Yeah. Like, because I know they come knowing that reveal.

I'm like, oh, oh, you thought I could just. all I could do is take off gloves and a wig. Oh, you thought that was it? Let me show you what I've got. I don't know. In my tights or, no, not that. Oh my gosh. I'm so curious.

How did you come up with the pedals in the, in each glove and then in the wig? Was that just an idea you had or you were like, oh, it was from listening to the song. Really? And I was like, oh, like, this should be a he loves me, he loves me not moment. Ooh, tea.

That then just like escalates because she's really going off. Absolutely. So whenever I, come up with the performance but my thing is I'm kind of like overcompensate for not being a good dancer and so I come up with these little like gestures and use all whatever skills I have yeah like I love to think of kooky things like the gloves and the wigs you're working with what you got so you're working to your strengths throw it all at the wall and then I can just like you know step step step and it's still exciting it's still dazzle I want to dazzle the audience deserves that

So I'll use whatever I have. So how did you come up with the show itself? Like did you write it yourself or did you have like friends that you wrote it with? Yeah, I've done two solo shows that I've traveled to the world that I've written myself, like direct all the video content. I work with costume designers. My really close collaborator, Diego Montoya, who makes like, he won an Emmy after working together on We're Here. Not on my season. Not yet.

But still. Not yet. But not yet. And he just, like, creates these sculptures. And we, like, kind of feed off of each other. And it's really fun. So, and then I try to maintain those costumes for, like, a year as I'm sweating. And then rolling around on the floor.

You spend enough money on them. Exactly. Yeah, I'm going to wear this bitch till the wheels fall off. But I'm about to do this new show headed for Broadway, hopefully. It's a plan. We're premiering at La Jolla Playhouse, which is, like, the pre-Broadway place in the world. And that's co-written with Moises Cal who wrote the Laramie Project, which is like one of the most important works at queer

theater in history. Oh my gosh. How exciting. Yeah, it's wild. It's like drag and theater combined. It's unlike anything I've done. I was in an audition room for it. Tea?

Just was intense behind the table. Yeah. How was that? I've always been scared to death of auditioning. Yeah. Like in person. And then when I'm behind the table, I was like, oh, I had nothing to be scared of because on this side of the table, we just want each person to succeed.

Yeah. Like we have a problem and we are hoping that you're the solution for it. That's actually a really good way of looking at it. I've only done a couple auditions, but they were like self-tape auditions. And even those, like, they fuck me up. Like, they made me so nervous. I get really nervous about it. I know.

Even when I did the last one I did, which I can't say what it's for, because I don't even think I got it. I'm being honest. I had to like read lines, but I was convinced I could do it myself. I could just like record the other line on the voice. always know and time it, but then I was like, then it's too mechanical and I'm not doing it organically. So then I had to ask my boyfriend to help read with me, but then he had to watch me and I hated that. I was like, I don't know, close your eyes or something when you're watching. Put a bag over your face. I used to know this to someone else. I was like something about that

is just making, it makes me so nervous. I could do something in front of thousands of people, but it's like doing little auditions like that, they freak me out every single time. So I guess the lesson I've learned is like they really want you to succeed. Probably more than like the audience. I'm honestly going to hold on to that. I hope that helps me. Like if I get one in the future, I hope that helps me because I get super nervy in those.

Especially it doesn't help that the very first audition I ever did, they made me sing. And I even though I told them I couldn't sing. I very explicitly said I couldn't sing. That's like the plot of a nightmare. And they made me sing acapella. And I said, was this a joke? Do you guys hate me?

Is this a troll? Yeah. This candid camera? I was like, you guys going to put this on Reddit? And what did you sing? I honestly sang, oh, fuck, what song did I sing? I sang the song Songbird, but I did the version that Naya Rivera did on Glee,

which like, first of all, shooting for the fucking moon, bitch. Why did I pick a hard song sing by a really talented singer? Like, I don't know why that one, if I had to guess, I was just thinking, maybe because I know all the lyrics to this one really well. You were panicked. You haven't prepared anything. Maybe I could just do this. I actually did do that.

to someone in the audition. I was like, can you sing? We gave them five minutes to prepare. It was great. They asked me for a minute acapella. And I was like, um, okay.

Did you get that part? Um, no. I think they blocked me. I think they got it and they were like, oh my God, she actually sent it. She actually fucking did it.

And they blocked me. That's my guess. If I had to guess. I think they were just razzing me, to be honest. Rude. Okay. So the topic for the guest,

which is, men who hate musicals, which I think I love musicals personally. I love Broadway. Big, big, big fan. So when people don't like it, I'm always like, you're so boring. Yes. It's so easy to hate Broadway. It's so easy to hate Broadway.

It is. It is. It's so silly, but I'm like, but everyone in there is talented. And it's fun. If you just let yourself have fun. Let's go back to having fun. Yeah. What happened to having fun?

Terrible men struggle with that. They do. It's because they're so unemployed. made. That's my guess anyway. Okay, so this first video that applies to our topic, it says in this video, a trans woman is telling a story of how she got a request to audition for a

musical that was looking to cast trans and non-binary actors. At the audition, she says she asked the casting directors if she could change keys because she's a tenor and the songs were written for soprano. They refused and said they wouldn't change any of the music. And she was really disappointed that a show specifically looking for trans actors

wouldn't let her use the key her voice was in. But I also think it's strange if you don't adjust keys for you know what I'm saying like you want them to read for a part and also the audition process like when you come in person to audition there's like a whole screening process before that yeah so they know what you look like what you sound like send in your voice yeah exactly and then they bring you in and then you do it again and then you do another one and then they maybe cast you so I'm like why wouldn't you alter it's really not that hard I don't think and I feel like specifically casting transatlantic I feel like specifically casting trans

people, like, you know the voice part of it all is a sensitive issue. Absolutely. How are you not going to have sensitivity around that? Like, when you're explicitly looking to cast trans and non-binary people, and like, why wouldn't you be more amenable to that? Like, this one says, some trans men can reach those notes. They wrote those songs already, and they don't want to rewrite all the harmonies. Well, first of all, she's a woman.

A trans man's not going to want to play that. Yeah, first of all, that I'm like, so you're being hateful for no fucking reason. And it says, they wrote the songs already, they don't want to rewrite a harmony. I think if you can't rewrite it, at least not the few lines you have her sing. Maybe you shouldn't be doing that. You can't adjust key? You know what I mean? You know what sometimes people are like, can you change the key?

And then they're like, sure. And they just start playing. You know what I mean? Like composers. Right. They know how to do that. Yeah. I was like, that's.

Couldn't be me. Yeah. I was like, I personally, do you have any musical abilities? Can you sing? I try to sing. For fun. I don't do it in public. Yeah, I was going to say, I can't.

I wish. Yeah. I mean, I'm not tone deaf, which is what I told the people I audition for, by the way. I said, I'm not tone deaf. They were like, we'll be the judge of that. They said, based off that video you sent us, I would disagree. I'm like, I'm not tone deaf, but I, like, I wouldn't say I'm a singer by no means. There's a reason why I gained a platform from being funny.

You know what I mean? Like, it's just singing is not in the cards for me. If I'm being honest, I think I would be too powerful if I could sing. That's right. Yeah, like, the universe had to humble me. They were like, n-mm, if I give you. the ability to sing who knows what you'll do. I feel like comedians make the best

like singers and actors. You think? The timing is there. Like the knowledge of like how fucked up people are. Tea. Which is like what you draw on to make a character. It's all there. That's what I'm saying.

Like I think I could act. Yeah. But I think I was like but singing I wish. That is like a specific scale. It is. And I'm jealous. Okay. I wish I could.

I hate when like people act like the text of a show is like so sacred. Like I, but maybe that's because like I love to completely change the meanings of songs. Yeah, totally, totally. Like, I'll, like, edit the track of a really famous work of music just to serve my performance. So, nothing's sacred. That's what I'm saying. At least we can change the key. Yeah, we can work.

There's always a workaround. And how you're going to perform, like, a musical from the, like, 1930s or 40s and not update the language a little. There's some problematic stuff in there. You have to tweak. And if you're going to do it with all trans people. and then it's like Oklahoma, no changes. Sorry, make it work. Don't know what to tell you.

Hello, Dolly, sorry, make it work. Don't know what to tell you. Yeah, it makes, it's, it's, it feels like almost petty because it's like we just are refusing to just for no reason. Like there's no, there's no valid reason why you wouldn't want to make those kinds of changes. Yeah. I don't think. And this next one says, there are trans women that have soprano voices.

Okay, she's not one of them. Right. Okay. Like, you don't want to limit who you can consider. Absolutely, because then your pool gets even smaller. You're already asking for trans women who can sing or and are willing to be on stage in a production like that. So that's already a small enough pool. You start ruling people out because you're just too lazy to change the key.

I doubt you're going to have many left after that. And it's like, you know, let's cancel this production. Yeah, for real. I'm not usually like that, but there's no point. I feel like if they're requiring people to be a. as like cisgender as possible. Like you're not actually accepting of trans people. Exactly.

And then it's disingenuous and weird. And then you're just exploiting trans people at that point. You're not even like not even really creating an environment for them or they can feel safe. Right. Creating accommodations for all the whole spectrum. For real. Okay. This next video, this says the title text over this TikTok says,

does anyone feel like actors just aren't good these days? And the person says they've been trying to watch sitcoms, but all of the acting is bad. cringy and over-emotional. And then this first comment says, I think you're also just aware that they're cringe theater kids. Who do you think was in movies and shit before? What do you think of sitcom is?

You know what's so funny is like me doing this now? I'm like most like really, and you know this, really, really famous people like like A-list celebrities. They're weird. They're fucking weird. Are they not? They're weirdos. They are.

They're all theater kid weirdos. Like if you're not weird and creepy like you have no intensity to draw on to be interesting. Exactly. That's my point. I'm like you would be shocked. Like I was like the way some of y'all would be shocked to meet famous people and see how normal and weird they are. Yeah. Like in a normal casual setting. Like any award shows like and all those part girl. Awkward. The freaks come out. They're so awkward. The amount of people I've met where I'm like, are you good? Like have you ever talked to another human like ever? Sometimes I talk to them, I'm like, oh, okay. Like, sometimes I leave interactions and I'm like, that was weird. Yeah.

Like, that was strange. I'm like, do you have friends and family? Right. You're like, was I weird? Yeah, yeah. Sometimes I start overthinking it, especially when you see them in like casual settings. Like in the most casual setting, like a house party or like an intimate dinner. And you see them talking and you're like, damn, if anyone, if I sent this to Dumois, she would have a feel day.

Okay, now offline we're going to have to have some conversations. I need those stories. I was like, if I'm listening to TNC, you guys would be shocked. It's not even crazy. It's just like they're normal and strange. Yeah. And they are very like, like you said awkward. Yeah.

Like the social aspect of being able to converse. That's what is fun to watch. I know. I have a blast. Every time I go, I have a blast. I feel like acting for a sitcom especially should be a little like. Gringy. Over the top.

Yeah. I know. Like, it's a comedy. Yeah, and that's how they all are. Even if you watch, like, old, old sitcoms, like, like, the Brady Bunch or, like, the Wonder Years. The idea that it used to be better. Like, I feel like there's more subtlety, more nuance now, but I don't know. Yeah, they're like, nowadays, it's all cringy.

And I'm like, realistic characters. Yeah. I'm like, no, for sure. Like, yeah, like in friends, for example, I'm like, okay, those two women, one of them was unemployed, and one was a fucking line cook and they were living in a two bedroom fucking fully furnished apartment in like the upper west side yeah what about that's realistic exactly not one thing i was like no conversations about like taxes yeah yeah for real grocery shopping for real like rent like the way that that's how we tuned into a sitcom for exactly it's an escape as well i saw that ticot and

they were bashing ghosts which is my favorite sitcom right now what's acom is that it's like we're this couple inherits a mansion in upstate New York that has like all these ghosts living there and then she hits her head and can see all of them and communicate with them. And they are very over the top characters from all different time periods. Okay too. I'm obsessed with it like every week when it drops I'm like must watch it now I'm going to have to check it out. It's very good. I love a corny show yes I love a cringy little corny show I love it I eat it up. Have you ever watched the summer I turn pretty? No oh girl it's super like young like teens rom-com type deal. It's super cornball, super cringy. Can't get enough. Every time it comes out,

I'm like, oh, I'm locked in. I'm watching every episode. I can't all be like heavy hitting. Yeah, like what do you expect? Like harrowing every single thing you watch. Sometimes when I see people say it talk shit on like like silly little romcums or whatever, like even the one that Anne Hethway was just in, what was it called the idea of you? Oh yeah. Yeah, her little, it's not very good in my opinion. And I love a cheesy rom-com, and I love Anne Hathaway. Adore her.

I just wasn't really viking with the writing, but like it was too, that wasn't a little too bad. But even then, I watched the whole thing. Yeah. I still,

is like, you want that on an airplane? Yeah, exactly. The first choice. Great airplane movie. I was like, I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching it,

even though I didn't enjoy it that much. Right. Because I had a, I'm like, what happened? I'm just a girl at the end of the day. I just want to watch something cute and fun.

Same. Doesn't need a series. Same girl. Even like the wedding planner with JLo. Oh, watch that every year. I love that movie. The holiday.

That is the one. Love. I was like, it's cheesy and silly. Love it. Can't get enough. I'm like, some of you guys are so fucking boring.

What do you watch NPR? Yeah, what do they watch? She's watching CNN on a loop. What is an example of good acting in their mind? Also, how exhausting to watch something so serious and like traumatizing all the time? You don't want to have a little fun?

Just a little bit? The worst acting to me is like, too earnest. We're like everything's really subtle and it's like eyebrows raised for every line. And I can hear that way a little bit myself. And it's meant to be like subtle but it's not.

You're like, do you know real people are crazy? Like you have to be over the top to be real. Yeah, absolutely. That's why I said it takes a little weirdo to be able to act properly and like a normal person. Exactly. Exactly. This next one says,

nobody takes themselves seriously anymore. Just look at society. All right. Well, what are you, 100? Look at these kids nowadays. You can never win. Most comments when I like try to talk about political things, which are important to me, I was like, you need to take yourself less seriously. Like, I am wearing four pairs of tights and clown makeup right now.

Trust me. I don't take myself seriously. Yeah, trust me, trust me. There's not a lot of serious. going on in my life all the time. This one says they're just unoriginal and it's like they're acting a part that already exists instead of a new one. Again, like what are we talking about?

Yeah, I was going to say. Like if the writing's bad, that's not their fault. Exactly. And you know what's funny is that Ann Hathaway movie, I remember seeing something that someone had asked her like, oh, like, are you planning on doing a sequel to this movie or whatever? And she goes, no, one's enough. Like, she was dead ass like, no, I'm good. And I said, I hope you got a big fat bag off that movie.

you left, girl. I'm sure she does. Bounced. Like you just made like seven mill off that shit and just walked away. Yeah. Yeah. Take your chips. Get out of the casino.

You don't need to do another one. Exactly. She goes, this is dog shit. I know that. I'm here for a check. Even like Meryl Streep has done some like silly rom-coms too. Yeah.

That's what I mean. That's like, it's part of the game. And honestly, sometimes maybe they just want to fuck around. They just want to have fun. Yeah. Maybe sometimes they're like,

okay, well, I did all the serious shit. I want an Oscar. Yeah. I'm going to do a silly little rom-com where I fall in love of the 24-year-old. Thoughts. That's range. That's what we're looking for in our divas.

Yeah, exactly. Range. I know, I was like, you got to have at least one, like one little fuck-off movie. I'm like, oh, can you not do lighthearted? Now I'm judging. Right? It's like, uh, it's just like, uh, Joey King when she's in the kissing booth. But then she was also in the act.

Right. Range. That is range. Mm-hmm. Range. That's all like she could do But could any of you do

The kissing booth? Could Denzel Washington Do the kissing booth? Right. Exactly. We'd like to see it. He couldn't. He could never.

Joey King could do fences But he couldn't do The kissing booth. That's really fucked up. Okay, I know. Throne thrown down. Yeah, I consider the gauntlet throne.

Timothy Shalameh. You tried doing it. You just talk your shit on Timothy Shalameh. I agree. I feel like people. like you said, they like either take themselves way too seriously or not serious enough. I feel like also too, this kind of energy gives me like someone who just likes to hate things that are universally loved.

So they're kind of like, well, I don't like it. It's just not my, like, okay, well, you're not going to win a fucking metal because you don't like what everybody else likes. Right. People like that are irritating to me. It's like the Taylor Swift hatred. Exactly. Exactly.

That's not a personality. You actually have no personality now. Yeah, the same. Yeah, it's kind of the same. it's the same exact thing as like people who say like oh people who are obsessed with her have no personality i'm like okay but you're obsessed with her in a different way and that's also no personality like it's the same shit like and honestly i feel like someone who is i feel like comfortable and confident in who they are can can acknowledge when people have talent yeah even if it's not something

that you particularly enjoy exactly you know what i mean like you don't need to hate and talk shit on it just because you personally don't like it like you know what i do and i don't like art i just don't consume it. Right. It's pretty simple. Like, if it's just not my vibe, I'm like, eh, that's not really my vibes. I still consume it because I'm the masochist. But sometimes I hate this so much. Sometimes I still be watching it. Exactly. Sometimes. But even then I'm like, I've even, I was just talking to someone about this the other day, but I was talking about how like, there's a lot of power and autonomy and admitting when you're being a hater. Yeah. Like you're like, okay, I need to be a hater for like just a second. Right. I talk mad shit on

this person who's never done anything to me, but they just, they irk something in my spirit. And Sometimes when you talk it and talk about it out loud and admit it, then you realize I'm being a fucking hater. Okay. I'm going to calm down. Because there is like meaningful criticism. Absolutely. It's not like anything.

It's hate. You can criticize TV shows for being badly written and having unoriginal characters. Yeah. But I think when it's just too general, it lacks the juiciness of a good read. The range. That's all I was like, at least I'm admitting it when I'm being a hater. I'm like, I have no valid reason to feel this way. And then once you talk through it, you're like, that's something kind of awful.

All right, I'm going to come down. And then you recognize that that's a, that's a alone with your friend's thought. Exactly. Right on social media. Exactly. I will say, though, sometimes when I do watch things, I think to the point of like, they're just playing characters they've seen before. I do think a lot of acting is drag.

And they're like portraying ideas of being a woman. Absolutely. Like when I go see a play, I see, because you know, a lot of the actors are gay. Yeah. And they butcher it up so much. It's comical. I'm like, it's a bunch of drag kings in front of me. Like, legs wide walking like this.

You're like, no way. Not all straight men are cowboys. Yeah. You know who's actually really good at that? Jonathan Bailey. Yes. Right? Yeah.

Yeah. But can play a straight man and it isn't like... Without giving a little too much. Cowboy, yeah. Cowboy, it's like giving Clint Eastwood. Like, just the most manly person they can think of. Even straight guys, like, fall for that. that's actually you know what that's that's that's so true what you said too because it's also the same way they write women or like feminism right like even in that fucking anne hathaway movie me just constantly doing PR for it they like there's like a part where she's like reverse PR though there's like a part where the daughter's like telling her like oh um you know and you said he was a feminist and like not once have they talked about feminism the entire fucking movie like so they're like what you're kind of like as a as an audience person you're like when did he say he?

he was a and she goes you don't want to be with a guy who's a feminist what the fuck girl what are we talking about like random words that's one of those things where you're like yeah where you're like real life people don't talk that way you don't know what I mean yeah they don't talk like that but you said he's a feminist when did she say that I didn't even hear that part I was like was I watching the whole movie cut scene yeah maybe that goes to the uh extra scenes deleted scenes yeah but you're right though. A lot of times it's like, if it is writing too, I always factor that in. If I'm like, I don't think they were bad. I think maybe the writing was just off. Like, because you can only work with what you have sometimes. Like, and again, sometimes I think people are just, they're there for a check. Let them collect it. That's fine. Let them have fun.

They don't want to argue. They're doing the lines that were written. Yeah. Yeah. They're like, listen, I'm not here to. Make it work as good as they can. Yeah, I'm not giving two cents. I'm just here to fulfill my role. Well, when it comes to casting for your show, like how was that process for you? Other than, just getting new perspective as someone who has auditioned before. It was fun. Was it? Because we had people bring in drag numbers. I don't want to like ruin too much. There's some surprises in the show, but I'm not going to be the only drag performer in the show,

which is so important to me. Yeah. These casting directors who've seen a lot were delighted by the drag. Really? I felt like, okay, I've learned more about this performer from seeing them put together their own like three minute number than you can get from a scene or even a song. Absolutely. Because you get like their personality, their creativity. And I think, you know, I'm always doing PR for drag itself.

I'm like, it's the greatest art form. It's got a little bit of everything. There's humor. And then we basically had them do a quick drag challenge, quick drag challenge. Like on Drag Race was like get into some level of drag in like three minutes. Totally. Because we want to see what you look like out of drag. And everyone did something so fun.

And the moments as they were like in the corner digging in their bag, like putting on the wig. like it was like a comedy routine. I was like this should be the show. Like just watched someone trying to figure out drag. Yeah. That's so funny. Someone had us put on um, Chaudet,

smooth operator and then like was turning around and doing pickup lines as they transformed. It was like actually the most brilliant thing I've ever seen. I love that. And then you get like you said, you get to be so creative and like you get to entertain and like you don't have to be any one type of queen or anything. You could be all of it and then some.

depending on what you like. That's so cool though. And was it like, it feels like maybe it was like a rewarding process for you too because you've been doing drag for so long and now you get to like kind of give that opportunity like of a lifetime to other people. It's hard because it's like I just want to cast everyone. I'm like, hey, the show's changed. I'm not in it anymore, but you all are.

I've cast everybody else. But it was nice and I got to like be an advocate for this thing that I love and, you know, tell people what is not to over. I think I got to be a voice telling people not to overlook. Absolutely. Certain kinds of art just because they aren't maybe what they've seen before. Or familiar with it as intimately as other people are. And, you know, I admire that about you, especially you, I know you made a joke about doing drag like PR.

But I think that's a beautiful thing because a lot of times the only way the door is open is if we build it ourselves and open it and open it and walk through it and hold it open on the other side. So I think the fact that you're continuing to do that even though you absolutely don't need to anymore. Because at this point, you are social lore, so you could just be a famous drag queen and just live your merry life and be a success and be fabulous, which you are doing. But in addition to that, you're also offering more opportunity for other queens that are coming out. I think that's wonderful. I feel like I'd be a total hypocrite if I didn't do that. And it's like, I would be lonely because I love doing drag with other people. Absolutely.

But you're creating these new mediums, these new forms, like, you know, on Broadway and everything. I think that's beautiful. Drag has been in fucking Broadway forever, for school, forever. But they've never let a drag queen write her own show before. I know exactly. So it's my time. Yeah, like written for, it's like by us and for us kind of thing. And I was my gag.

I'm still waiting for my free tickets because there's two shows on Broadway doing a rose pedal reveal right now. Really? Like copying my so emotional. And they haven't reached out to give me free tickets. So Spam a lot and Titanic. I'm waiting for my PR invite. Yeah, let's go ahead and do that. I can come coach you how to do it properly.

Yeah, exactly. But it feels like that's just. that's opening the door for me to actually like put the art of drag in its full form. Written by a drag queen. So that someone else can come and do it better four years later. But I want to commend you on that. I think that's beautiful and I think it's really, really important. And also, we deserve to exist.

Like every marginalized person deserves to exist in every form of media. And it's like the only way you achieve like acceptance is by exposure a lot of times. So the more people see it, the more people normalize it, even though it's been normal forever, just not to most people. I think the less stigma it has, and then the less fear there is. And, you know, it's just like a chain effect.

Hello, like you're tired of the same old characters being on TV? Like, bring in people to the writer's room and the producing table who have not been represented before. Absolutely. And we'll give you some new stories. And you're doing just that.

And I commend you, I think you're amazing. As are you. And to write up, wrap this up, what would you say is your best piece of advice for whether they're looking into drag or maybe they're in the LGBTQIA plus community as a whole and want to be an entertainer, what would you say is your best piece of advice for them coming up in the business? Best piece of advice is like take big risks. Like every time I've had success, it's because I did something I was like terrified to try

and I was thought I might fail at and half the time you do fail. Yeah. But you learn how to succeed next time. Absolutely. And just ignore everyone's advice except what's in here. So ignore what I said to. I think too, like if they don't have the life that you want, don't take advice from them. Hello.

You know what I mean? A lot of times people who don't have the life that you want, offer it unsolicited anyway. It's always that. Yeah, you can just ignore that because if they don't have it, you don't need to listen to their advice. Clearly, they don't know how to do it. But I also think you felt called to it and you did it and now look at you, girl. There's no turning back. Period.

Obviously. Thank you so much for coming on the show. You're amazing. Thank you for having me. You're incredible. As are you. Where can everybody find you? You can go to my website, sashavelour.com.

Follow me at Sasha Valore on Instagram. I'm still doing that. So my new show opens in August in San Diego at La Jolla, or in Lairobi. La Jolla, California, I guess. Yes. And then, who knows where after that. Absolutely. And we're here.

We're here is on HBO, streaming on Macs, season four. Yes. There's a pretty intense reveal performance of mine at the very, very end that closes the season. So you've got to watch the whole thing to get there and see all my drag daughters who know that. And Sasha is

the queen of reveals, so you have to tune in. I know I'm going to. Thank you so much for coming on the show. You're amazing. Thank you. I adore you. I adore you. This has been so much fun. And thank you. And thank you also. much for joining us on this episode of the comments. Session, please make sure if you're not already, which I'm sure most of you are, follow

Ms. Sasha Valor on everything. Make sure you go see her show. Make sure you watch HBO Max. We're here. It's going to be very, very incredible and moving and amazing. And honestly, that show makes me cry, so I can't even imagine. I'm sure it's real email again. Yeah, save it up.

Yeah, for real. Thank you so much for joining us on this episode of the comments section. Don't forget new episodes drop every Wednesday. You can stream the audio on all streaming platforms or you can watch the video exclusively and for free on our favorite platform, Spotify. Also, don't forget, replay Fridays are now on the past for bedtime YouTube channel, the way I fucking forget the name of that segment. All the episodes will be uploaded on there, but don't yell at me anymore about the shit.

Just go watch it on Spotify. Thank you so much to Miss Sasha Valour. Thank you all for joining us, and I'll see you next week. Bye.