This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary have responded to demonstrations against drag queen events.
During Friday’s episode, the couple, along with panellists Gyles Brandreth and Ateh Jewel, were discussing a sensory event for parents and their newborns slated to involve drag performers and finish in a ‘rave’.
The CabaBabaRave was scheduled to take place this weekend in London.
The event, organised by two mothers, billed itself as a “small slice of afternoon fun,” but it sparked controversy after several people claimed it was “inappropriate” for youngsters.
Previous events featured bondage-clad acrobats, thong-wearing drag queens, and a female performer with nipple tassels.
The This Morning panel were perplexed when asked about the event after it was cancelled.
‘Surely it is just a bit of fun,’ Alison said, while her co-host added it was ‘just a sensory experience for babies’.
Yet, Ateh went on to explain why she felt people were upset.
‘It just shows you that nipples when you are breastfeeding is a beautiful natural thing but put some tassels on and there’s a problem,’ she said.
‘I’m not sure what the problem is. It’s amazing, it’s artists, it’s so lovely the colour and movement – I believe you should just get over it and join it.’
Gyles stated that he ‘didn’t have an issue with it,’ and that it was an event that allowed moms to get out and about and have a wonderful time.
‘People are complaining because it is a drag act and a show [they think is just] for grown-ups but it’s like taking baby to cinema, it is for mums who want a fun morning or show and the babies are just there at the same time.’
The panel next explored how drag had a long history and questioned why there was now so much pushback and suggestions that watching it was harmful to youngsters.
‘This country has an incredible tradition of drag acts,’ Dermot said.
‘When I used to watch Saturday night television when I was a kid I would be holding out for the likes of you know Danny [La Rue] or Dame Edna, and they were marvellous,’ he said.
As Alison said, she wanted to get involved and attend a baby rave: ‘It sounds amazing.’
During the debate, drag queen The Vivienne, who won the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Britain in 2019, thanked the team on social media.
‘Thank you so much @radioleary and @AlisonHammond on @thismorning for talking complete sense about drag!!! It’s nothing new and it’s just entertainment 💚💚💚💚 #thismorning,’ she posted on Twitter.
Other people watching on held similar sentiments.
The accusations followed a protest last weekend at London’s Tate Britain over a Drag Queen Story Hour UK programme.
After members of Patriotic Alternative, a white supremacist organisation, conducted rallies, one person was detained.
They were confronted, however, by hundreds of people carrying trans Pride flags and posters stating ‘Don’t let the far-right split us’ and ‘Smash Fascism and Racism’ as part of a pro-LGBTQ+ counter-protest.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.