Tag: Sherry Pie

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How RuPaul’s Drag Race Is Handling Its ‘Sherry Pie Problem’

Sherry Pie (image via World of Wonder)
And the scandal that is Sherry Pie continues to unwind. As I previously reported, my Instinct Magazine colleague Mickey Keating was first to bring to light the odd catfishing allegations against current RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, Sherry Pie (aka Joey Gugliemelli). After Mickey’s exclusive interview with the initial accuser, actor Ben Shimkus, several more aspiring actors chimed in alleging that Gugliemelli had “connected them” with a “casting director” named ‘Alison Mossey’ who requested sexually charged audition videos in order to be considered for a role in a new play at the prestigious Playwrights Horizon theater company in New York City. As you may know, it eventually led to the revelation that Gugliemelli was the faux casting director. Just hours before Sherry Pie’s debut on RPDR a week ago, Gugliemelli issued an “apology” via social media saying he was “horribly embarrassed” and “disgusted” with himself for what he had done, and blamed the behavior on mental health issues. Shortly before airtime, the producers at RPDR announced that, in light of recent revelations, Sherry Pie had been disqualified from the competition and would not be participating in the season’s yet-to-be filmed finale.

 

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Statement from VH1 and World of Wonder

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That said, out of respect for the work already filmed by the other contestants, the season would air. But it’s clear from watching Sherry Pie’s two episodes thus far that the powers that be are minimizing screen time for the drag queen via editing by keeping confessional moments and camera time to a minimum. [Warning – spoilers for RuPaul’s Drag Race coming] Shimkus went public with his allegations upon hearing that Sherry Pie apparently does very well in the new season and may reach the top four in the competition wherein she would compete in the grand finale where the season’s winner will be crowned. For example, Sherry Pie won the most recent episode thanks to her improv abilities. And for the win, she was awarded $5,000 in cash. But in a disclaimer at the end of the show, it was announced that VH1 and World of Wonder had $5,000 was donated to The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading organization for providing suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people. It’s unclear if that was Sherry Pie’s prize money or an additional amount donated to TTP. RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 airs Fridays at 8/7c on VH1.

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Podcast: Aaron Schock, HIV In The Military, Sherry Pie, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg,

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals issues important decision for those with HIV • Disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock comes out as gay • Former Vice President Joe Biden’s plans to advance LGBTQ equality Link to The Biden Plan To Advance LGBTQ Equality in America Link to Bernie Sanders LGBTQ Plan • Pro golfer loses sponsors after sharing a homophobic meme on social media • ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ cancels Sherry Pie after admitting to cat-fishing young actors nude photos and videos • RuPaul’s scripted Netflix series ‘AJ and the Queen’ canceled after one season • Mayor Pete Buttigieg ended his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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Sherry Pie Disqualified Just Hours Before RuPaul’s Drag Race Debut

Sherry Pie (image via World of Wonder)
RuPaul’s Drag Race has canceled Season 12 contestant Sherry Pie after numerous allegations of catfishing young men for nude photos went viral. Aspiring actor Ben Shimkus posted on his Facebook account an emotionally jarring story regarding Joey Gugliemelli aka Sherry Pie, who makes her Drag Race debut tonight. My Instinct Magazine colleague Mickey Keating first broke the news of Shimkus’ story with an exclusive interview with him regarding his experience with Gugliemelli. Posing as a casting director for a prestigious theater company in New York City, Gugliemelli would entice young male actors to send explicit photos and video clips as ‘audition’ materials for a new play to be presented. After Shimkus’s post went viral, several others came forward with similar stories. Eventually, Gugliemelli took to Facebook himself and copped to the accusations.

“This is Joey, I want to start by saying how sorry I am that I caused such trauma and pain and how horribly embarrassed and disgusted I am with myself. I know that the pain and hurt that I have caused will never go away and I know that what I did was wrong and truly cruel. Until being on RuPaul’s Drag Race, I never really understood how much my mental health and taking care of things meant. I learned on that show how important “loving yourself” is and I don’t think I have ever loved myself. I have been seeking help and receiving treatment since coming back to NYC. I truly apologize to everyone I have hurt with my actions. I also want to say how sorry I am to my sisters of season 12 and honestly the whole network and production company. All I can do is change the behavior and that starts with me and doing that work.”

In the wake of Gugliemelli’s admission, RuPaul’s Drag Race announced that, while the bulk of Season 12 has already been filmed, Sherry Pie “will not appear in the grand finale scheduled to be filmed later this spring.” Sherry’s entre to RPDR and ‘cancel culture’ begins tonight on VH1.