Drag Race star LaLa Ri has opened up about his decision to step away from drag. In October, the beloved performer shocked fans with an announcement on social media that he was leaving the drag industry behind.

After weeks of speculation, LaLa finally addressed his departure in a November 14 interview

“How can I put this? I’m removing myself from the drag character. I’m basically removing the essence,” he explained.

“I feel like drag places us in a box as artists and entertainers, and sometimes, in drag, you’re limited to what you can do artistically. I’d like to be considered a queer artist more than just a drag queen.”

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LaLa confirmed he plans to continue entertaining and “do all the things” he did before—just not as his drag alter ego.

When reflecting on his decision to step away from drag, LaLa Ri opened up about his journey and revealed that pursuing drag was never part of his original plan.

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“I was pushed into doing drag. I never wanted to do drag for myself. I was already in the entertainment industry as a dancer and choreographer. I was doing music before drag,” he shared.

“Drag was just a different outlet for me to perform. It blew up, I got on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and it took off from there. It was like, I guess I’ve got to stick with this for a while. Even doing All Stars, I wanted to be there, obviously, because the opportunity and platform is amazing, but I didn’t want to be there doing drag.”

Following his interview with Entertainment Weekly, LaLa addressed fans directly through a video on Instagram, expressing gratitude for their support while elaborating on his next steps in his evolving career.

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LaLa Ri's departure from drag marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and we can’t wait to see what he has planned for his new era. With his undeniable talent, charisma, and artistic vision, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to captivate and inspire in fresh and unexpected ways. The LaLa Ri Experience is far from over—this is just the start!