In a dramatic escalation of a long-running feud, a winner of RuPaul's Drag Race has declared an intention to take legal action against the show's creator and a prominent judge.
Legal Allegations from a Former Champion
James Ross, the drag performer known as Tyra Sanchez who won the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2010, has publicly stated plans to file a lawsuit. The 37-year-old is targeting RuPaul, judge Michelle Visage, and the production company World of Wonder (WOW).
Ross made the announcement in a detailed social media post on January 7, 2026. He accuses the trio of a sustained campaign against him, listing allegations including intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false light, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.
A Decade-Long Dispute Comes to a Head
The reality star's statement claims that for over ten years, the defendants have attempted to "discredit, disparage, and destroy his professional reputation". He alleges this was done with a "reckless regard for the truth" intending to incite public and industry backlash.
Ross supported his claims with specific examples. He posted an old interview clip where Michelle Visage said that, had she been a judge on Season 2, she would have "fought really hard" for runner-up Raven to win instead. He also cited a skit, reposted by RuPaul last year, that depicted RuPaul slapping Ross in the face.
Further context comes from an event in July 2025, when RuPaul crowned Raven the winner of a Snatch Game segment on Drag Race All Stars 10, calling it "the moment you've all been waiting for."
History of Controversy and Alleged Malice
Ross, whose post-Drag Race career has been marred by controversy, also made allegations against WOW. He claims the company filed a false police report in 2018 accusing him of threatening to "blow up DragCon," an incident that led to him being banned from the event. He also accuses the producers of airing defamatory storylines about him on the show.
The drag performer's statement concluded by saying he "seeks affirmative relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, as well as declaratory relief acknowledging the Defendants' wrongful conduct." It is important to note that, as of this reporting, no formal lawsuit has been filed with a court.
Metro has contacted representatives for RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and World of Wonder for comment.
