Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is blasted for comparing drag to ‘black face’ and a parody of ‘real women’
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is blasted for comparing drag to ‘black face’ and a parody of ‘real women’- after sparking a row over transgender athletes earlier this year
The mother-of-two, 57, from Plymouth, took to Twitter to claiming she’s ‘fed up’ of drag shows because they ‘parody’ a ‘real woman’ and perpetuate ‘stereotypes’.
Many accused the athlete of being ‘racist’ while stars from the globe, including Lorraine Kelly and Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, lashed out at Sharron.
It comes after Sharron, who won 22 titles at the British Swimming Championships between 1976 and 1992, caused outrage earlier this year for suggesting male-born athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has sparked outrage online after suggesting that drag is similar to ‘black face’
Pictured: Swimmer Sharron , who earlier this year told she is against male-born athletes competing in women’s sport
The athlete penned: ‘Am I the only person fed up of drag shows? A parody of what a real woman is, like black face.
‘Woman are juggling kids, rushing out a wholesome dinner, doing the laundry and cleaning, holding down a job all with period pains and leaky boobs if breast feeding. Enough of the stereotypes’.
Drag stars from across the UK and US were furious with the tweet, and several took to Twitter to share their rage – including Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne.
She said: ‘I have never pretended to BE a woman, I do however LOVE dressing In beautiful gowns, lovely hair and make up, I could never be as strong and amazing as my MOTHER. She’s a real woman! You should take notes.’
told that she is ‘fed up’ of drag shows as they ‘parody’ a ‘real woman’ and perpetuate ‘stereotypes’
Daytime host Lorraine Kelly, who recently had a drag makeover by the family Gorgeous, argued that drag can ‘literally save lives’.
She wrote: ‘Oh Sharron. You can’t underestimate the power of drag and how it empowers people who often feel like outsiders – they can find their family, grow in confidence, learn to love themselves and be who they really are. It can literally save lives. And it’s such a lot of FUN!’
Drag Race UK star Bagachipz fumed: ‘Dear lord you are a piece of work aren’t ya. Scum. And I say that with no regret.’
Meanwhile, Drag Race US star Plastique Tiara simply shared a meme to portray her disgust.
One user Tweeted Drag Race judge Michelle Visage to get he opinion on the matter, writing: ‘So a tweet grumbling about stereotyping full of stereotypes!
‘Bring on the pantomime dames, the drag queens. With all that female stereotypical behaviour going on we need a little light relief!’
She agreed: ‘amen.’
As serveral others Tweeter insisting that drag is nothing like black face, Sharron defended herself, insisting that there is ‘no way’ she can be racist because of her marriage to fellow athlete Derek Redmond and their two mixed race children.
Daytime host Lorraine Kelly, who recently had a drag makeover by the family Gorgeous, argued that drag can ‘literally save lives’ as well as Drag Race judge Michelle Visage
Replying to a Tweet which explained that black face led to ‘blackface led to direct violence against black people’ Sharon insisted that there is ‘no way’ she can be racist as she’s friends with ‘loads’ of people from ‘around the world’.
She wrote: ‘With mixed race kids & loads of wonderful friends from all over the world don’t think I can be accused of racism.
She later added: ‘I’m not reducing anyone else’s struggle just saying promoting ridiculous stereotypes is dangerous, as is racism.’
Sharron defended herself, insisting that there is ‘no way’ she can be racist because of her marriage to fellow athlete Derek Redmond and their two mixed race children
In July, the swimmer sparked a gender-based row after she posted about an end-of-the-world type scenario to explain why she thinks ‘binary sexes matter’.
Ms Davies claimed that the only way for humanity to survive on a deserted island, if reduced to two humans, would be for a man and a woman to procreate.
‘If you put 2 biological females on an island humanity dies out (but they’d talk loads) if you put a biological male & a trans woman on an island humanity dies out,’ she posted.
‘But if u put a male & a female there we might stand a chance! Providing they can fish of course. Binary Sex matters.’
The fresh row came months after she argued the female athletes needed to be protected from transgender competitors ‘with a male sex advantage’.
The fresh row came months after she argued the female athletes needed to be protected from transgender competitors ‘with a male sex advantage’
