'Drag Race Italia's Farida Kant Slams Lady Camden & 'Werq The World'

There are a few relevant layers that should be evaluated when discussing Kant’s comments about Camden.

First and foremost, Camden attended the Royal Ballet School prior to starting drag, meaning that she’s precisely known for her background and education in dance. It is absolutely fair to have different opinions about someone’s set of skills. It is also worth highlighting that attending dance school doesn’t automatically make anyone a good dancer. However, it feels particularly pointed for a fellow Drag Race queen to criticize Camden for her dancing – a talent that was widely displayed over the course of season 14 and beyond, and a skill that she’s been working on over the course of her entire life.

The second main point that stands out from Kant’s criticism is that “Italian drag girls are excluded from all this even though our level is the same, if not better.” It is objectively and historically accurate that big touring opportunities for Drag Race queens are mostly offered to contestants who appear in US seasons of the show. Alas, queens themselves don’t have control over the casting process of Werq the World. While this is a fair criticism, that decision is up to the producers of the tour ­– not to Camden or any other performer. It’s also worth mentioning that this point can be made without the need to diminish Camden’s talents. The fact that some Italian drag performers could potentially dance better than Camden has nothing to do with the casting process that favors contestants from US seasons over contestants from international spinoffs.

Overall, it is absolutely understandable that queens from international Drag Race shows feel undervalued by tour producers. It is also fair for Kant to believe that Camden is just a “medium-level dancer.” But it is a little disappointing to see entertainers criticizing other entertainers for things like casting, which are absolutely out of their control. More people around the world watch the US seasons of Drag Race, which makes those drag performers more famous. Throwing shade at Camden’s dancing skills – in comparison to other wonderful queens from Drag Race Italia who aren’t as famous as Camden – feels unnecessary and serves as a distraction from what would otherwise be a very good point.

We’re always rooting for more representation across the board when it comes to casting on Drag Race and/or for massive tours like Werq the World. But this “hot take” from Kant will likely just create drama between her fans and Camden’s… instead of shining a light on how queens from international seasons should also be given big opportunities.