Lizzo Joined Onstage by Flood of Drag Queens During Tenn. Concert Amid Gov Lee’s Anti-Drag Bill
Lizzo is taking a stance on Tennessee’s anti-drag bill in an extravagant way.
During Friday night’s show (April 21) at Knoxville's Thompson-Boling Arena, the “Juice” singer addressed the state’s new law, which seeks to ban public drag shows and events by inviting a group of drag performers on stage for a dynamic performance.
In a clip posted to her Twitter account, the Grammy Award-winner could be heard talking to the crowd where she revealed that “In light of recent and tragic events and current events, I was told by people on the internet.”
Amid Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s push for the controversial legislation, the state was also the site of another mass shooting that claimed the lives of six people, three of whom were young children, when a 28-year-old woman opened fire at a private Christian Academy in Nashville.
However, Lizzo refused to bail out on her fans, sharing, “Why would I not come to the people who need to hear this message the most.” Cheers flooded the stadium as the songwriter continued, "Why would I not create a safe space in Tennessee where we can celebrate drag entertainers and celebrate our differences?"
She added, “What people in Tennessee are doing is giving hope, so thank you so much for standing up for your rights, protecting each other, and holding the people accountable who should be protecting us.”
Soon after, the singer was joined onstage by a flood of nearly two-dozen drag stars, many of whom have appeared on the Primetime Emmy Award-winning reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Governor Lee’s anti-drag bill, informally known as the "Tennessee Drag Ban," was signed last month and restricts "adult cabaret performances" on public property and potentially in the view of minors, more specifically “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators.” Tennessee has become the first state to establish such a law, although many similar legislations have already in the works.
Lizzo’s performance comes on the heels of a recent block by a federal judge, temporarily suspending the bill citing First Amendment issues.
