Willam On 'Drag Race' Blacklist “They Will Never Put Me Within Spitting Distance of RuPaul Again!”

Willam Belli, a name synonymous with both controversy and charisma in drag culture, has once again taken center stage—not on the Drag Race runway, but in the headlines. In the lead-up to the premiere of her bold new stripping talent competition, Willam’s Dark Room Duel on OUTflix, the performer is speaking candidly about her fallout with the RuPaul’s Drag Race juggernaut, persistent blacklist rumours, and the toxic dynamics she alleges behind the scenes .

Willam’s dramatic removal from season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2012 was the first of its kind in the franchise’s history. At the time, the official explanation—delivered during a reunion episode to a chorus of “What did Willam do?”—was that she had broken the rules by receiving a “conjugal visit” from her husband during filming. Now, Willam reveals that the story was more complicated. She admits to breaking multiple production rules, including maintaining outside communication and running her business while on set—actions that were not publicly disclosed at the time .

“One of the rules I broke was outside communication. I had a laptop with me. I was still running my go-go business while I was at Drag Race… They didn’t know that till after,” Willam explains. The “conjugal visit” narrative, she says, was a cover: “The conjugal visit was me going along with it because I wanted to get on All Stars and Drag U and all those things” .

Since her exit, Willam’s relationship with the Drag Race world and its producers, World of Wonder, has become increasingly strained. She is forthright about her status: “There’s only one group that won’t work with me: World of Wonder. And I think it says more about them than it does about me,” she states. Willam attributes her blacklisting to her willingness to speak out about issues she observed on set, including allegations of misconduct and mistreatment of staff .

“It’s in their best interest to keep their shining star safe and shining. And I am a liability to that, because I’m a whistleblower and a truth-teller. When something is wrong on set, I will talk about it. Like I always did,” Willam asserts .

Her outspokenness has made her a polarizing figure in the Drag Race community, but also a beloved anti-hero for fans who value transparency and resistance to sanitized narratives. “I kind of love that, ’cos everybody always calls me a villain,” she quips .

Tensions flared again at DragCon 2024 in Los Angeles, where Willam was forcibly removed from the event by a large security contingent. Social media buzzed with speculation, and video evidence later confirmed that Willam was escorted out by 11 officers and security guards, after being labeled “a risk for the event” by organizers. Willam later explained on Instagram and YouTube that her removal was linked to her public discussion of allegations against the Drag Race production company, including sexual harassment complaints made by union crew members .

“They trailed me around the convention center and then waited til I went backstage for the Queens Walk to descend and encircle me so they wouldn’t be by the fans and cameras,” Willam posted. She further promised to elaborate on the incident in upcoming episodes of her podcast, RaceChaser .

Neither World of Wonder nor RuPaul has responded publicly to these latest allegations or the circumstances of Willam’s ejection .

Far from retreating, Willam has used her outsider status to double down on her commitment to queer entertainment that challenges taboos. Willam’s Dark Room Duel, now streaming on OUTflix, is part talent competition, part celebration of strip culture, and wholly dedicated to showcasing bodies and performances often marginalized in mainstream queer media. The show draws on Willam’s extensive history in Los Angeles’ go-go and strip club scene, a world she managed professionally for over a decade before her Drag Race fame .

“In 2002, I started booking strippers for Mickey’s, The Abbey, and like 20 other clubs in SoCal, San Diego, Orange County, and Vegas,” Willam recounts. The show’s judging panel reflects this background, featuring experienced entertainers rather than celebrity guest stars. “It’s people who know about stripping, know about being entertainers and who’ve actually done it,” she says .

Willam fiercely defends the value of stripping and sex-positive queer spaces: “Everybody likes strippers. Everybody likes to look at beautiful, naked people. And if you don’t, what are you so afraid of?” Her mission, she says, is to help people find joy and community in their desires, whether that means tipping a performer or just enjoying the spectacle .

Willam’s refusal to “kowtow” to industry expectations and PR-driven narratives has cost her opportunities within the Drag Race franchise, but she remains undeterred. “For a lot of girls, RuPaul’s Drag Race is the only opportunity and the biggest opportunity in the game. For me, it was a gig. And I did what I wanted. I knew I wasn’t going to go in and win, so I went in and messed stuff up,” she reflects .

While some in the Drag Race fandom view Willam as a disruptive force, others praise her unwavering honesty and advocacy for safer, more transparent working conditions for queer performers. As Willam herself sums up: “They will never put me within spitting distance of RuPaul again. And I’m fine with that. I don’t regret a single thing.”

The controversy surrounding Willam’s blacklisting and her critiques of the Drag Race production have sparked renewed conversations within LGBTQ+ circles about accountability, gatekeeping, and the need for diverse voices in queer entertainment. Many fans and fellow performers have taken to social media to express solidarity with Willam’s stance on workplace safety and creative freedom .

For some, Willam’s journey is emblematic of broader struggles faced by LGBTQ+ artists who challenge the status quo. Her ability to turn exclusion into empowerment—and to center marginalized forms of queer expression on her own terms—has resonated with a new generation of LGBTQ+ fans seeking authenticity and representation beyond the mainstream.

As Willam’s Dark Room Duel launches, one thing is clear: whether on stage, screen, or in the headlines, Willam remains unapologetically herself—and in doing so, continues to reshape the boundaries of queer culture.