The X Change Rate: Eva Marcille & Ben Shimkus
Hot off her historic "RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars" win, Monét X Change brings her very own talk show to BUILD Series. Actress and fashion model Eva Marcille and Ben Shimkus joined Monét to chat.
Video Transcript
[THEME MUSIC]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Hey, y'all, it's your girl Monét. And you're watching "The X Change Rate," the best show on YouTube hosted by a drag queen on Thursday that starts at approximately 5:33 PM.
[LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]
If you've been stuck in the quarantine sunken place, as I like to call it, where, like, it's been Wednesday for like four days now-- you-- you go to bed at 7:00 AM, but you wake up at 6:00 PM, so the sun is setting, but you think the sun is waking-- girl, I've just been in a weird, sunken quarantine place. And that's OK. It's a vibe. It's a mood. And you just get through it. And then you just-- you know, you live your life. And you just pick up the pieces and move on.
So in case you've been there and you didn't know what's going on-- or you're just homophobic-- "Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande has hit the streets, girl. And the homosexuals-- and some of the straighties too-- are really feeling it.
And I have to-- it is a good song. "Rain on Me" is fierce. I love it. It's a good song. But some people are getting a little crazy. Jan Sport tweeted talking about, "Rain on Me" is the new "Enough is Enough." Girl, you getting crazy. "Enough is enough" by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer is a time-uh-less song.
Now, I don't know when it came out. I want to say in the late '70s, early '80s, I think. Like, and the song is still-- bitch, she is still hitting now. You play that song at 3:00-- 3:00 AM at the gay club, the homos are living. I don't know if "Rain on Me" will be that in the year-- what are we now, 20-- in the year-- bitch, OK, enough is enough. That's 50 years ago. In 50 years, will we still be (SINGING) rain on me.
I don't-- I don't-- hmm, I don't know if that's all symbiotic. That's not the word, but we using it. We're going. We're vibing.
And-- [CHUCKLES] I also had a really deep thought, as we do when we are, like-- you know when you're in bed, and, like, you finally put the TV off, and you, like, you put the phone down, and you, like, have all the crazy thoughts. You're like, oh, shit, I have to pee. Should I get up and pee? If I get up and pee, I'm going to make-- it's going to make me more awake.
Anyway, in one-- at one of those times in my life, last night, I was thinking, like, this coronavirus situation is going to fuck up, like, the fall TV, like, line. Like, we're-- like, we're not going to have anything new for the fall. Like, I don't think people were banking-- Hollywood was banking shit with this in mind. I think our fall TV lineup is going to be really messed up. Like, are we going to-- is everyone going to go to "SNL" route. Are we going to have, like, Zoom sitcoms? Imagine a whole sitcom done on Zoom.
That just sounds really bad to me. But it might be what we have to deal with, at least from September to November. Because-- because then they'll start to film in September. So then we'll get new stuff in the spring.
I don't know. I'm just very nervous about fall TV. I love TV, and I'm really, really, really scared for my TV.
And then, talk about TV, it is the week of the "RuPaul's Drag Race" grand finale. Tomorrow night we finally get the winner of season 12 between Gigi, Crystal, or Jaida.
Now, if you want to see those three queens on "The X Change Rate" on BUILD, I did three special interviews with all three of them which will be airing tomorrow, starting from noon, 3:00, and 6 o'clock, with-- honestly, it was really great. The girls looked great. They're really fun interviews. And make sure you watch our Countdown to the Crown, tomorrow, Friday, from 12:00 to 6:00 PM on the BUILD Series. Look out for those on my Instagram, on my YouTube, whatever.
And I've also realized that "Drag Race" season is just super long. It normally is long. We normally have a lot of "Drag Race." But when they threw "Celebrity Drag Race" in the mix, then we were getting literally four hours of "Drag Race." And now we're at the half-way point. And "All-Stars" is starting next week. So we have 10 more weeks of "Drag Race." Which, in this situation, I don't think we're all mad. But it just feels really daunting.
And-- but needless to say, I'm excited for the finale, I'm excited for "All-Stars," and it's going to be lit. Woo.
It's another delicious show here at Mo Money Studios. Because today we had the beautiful, the stunning, the goddess Eva Marcille and the lovely Ben Shimkus.
[APPLAUSE]
Uh huh, uh huh. But first, (SINGING) let's get to the gig.
[APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[INAUDIBLE]
[LAUGHS]
I have to say, I put on this look today, and I feel-- I felt like an old person trying to look young. I am just-- I just turned 30 years old in February. But I feel like I'm-- I don't know if it's mentally or physically, I feel like an old person trying to look cool.
Am I giving that vibe, or do I look like a young person that's just cool? I also was going to put on this choker, and Patty was like, do not put that on. You literally look like a big Ariana Grande impersonator. So we opted for no choker.
I just give you this look. But I feel very cool. Ya, ya, ya.
You know, it's very Khloé Kardashian. On "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," she loves, like, a denim moment. And she has a good American bland. [CHUCKLES] I didn't mean that. I didn't mean to say it was bland. Good American brand.
And she is a hot topic right now because, I have to say, she put up these pictures on her IG. And I was like, girl, what in the Doctors Dismore am I the fuck looking at?
All right, the Kardashians are no stranger to plastic surgery. We all know. None of them look like what they did when we first met them. Kim K.-- exhibit A, exhibit B. OK, these are two different faces, all right, from season 1 "Kardashians" to now, which is fine.
Kylie Jenner-- I mean. But a little bit of Kylie Jenner is like, is it age that now she looks different, or is this a lot of work done? Definitely the body. She definitely got some body stuff done. But the face-- [HESITANT MURMUR] I mean, exhibit A, exhibit B.
Kourtney is the one she stayed consistent. Kourtney-- Kourtney does, like, really, really minor things that you don't really notice. Kourtney pretty much looks like how she does. Like, that's Kourtney. But Khloé Motherfucking Kardashian-- let's look at Khloé's season 1 of (PITCHED UP) "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." And then this Khloé now, this picture she put out.
Girl-- girl, girl, girl, girl, girl, girl. We've all been guilty of going ham on the face 'tude. And when look back, and you know the picture don't look like you, but you're like, bitch, I still look cute, so you post it anyway. So I think-- I want-- I'm hoping that that's what Khloé looks like.
Because honestly, it is just a-- it is a jolting difference from what she used to look like. And Khloé has changed a lot. I mean, her-- she-- she's always been the big sister, in more ways than one. And that's not shade. Like, she just looks like she's from a bigger stock.
In my family, my brother is-- I'm already a big man. My brother is a big, big, big man, all right? And we're from the same blind. We're from the same breed of livestock. He's just a bigger man.
So Khloé's always been the bigger sister. But I mean, she's gotten her body really small. And this face?
But what kills me is that sometimes they really act like they don't get the surgery. Like remember when Kim did that whole episode, and she, like, went to the doctor, and they did, like, X-rays and stuff to show that her ass was real?
Yeah, we're not saying your ass is, like, silicone. We're saying that you got fat from other people, from other places, and you added it to your ass. Bitch, your ass was not this big. Like-- like, we can go back and look at old videos and pictures and know that that's not true. Like, I don't understand what they're trying to get away with.
Khloé has always said that she, like, would, like, get her nose done. But she's never admitted to getting, like, major surgery, which is give me very "RuPaul-- The Reunion" with that damn blue face mask on. RuPaul, what you-- what you done got snip, snip, snip, snippified? (KNOWINGLY) Mm-hmm.
And if Khloé got this during quarantine, I think that's what people are really bugged out about, like, did Khloé get, like, elective procedures when we're supposed to be locked down? So I think that's why she may not-- she may be a little nervous about it. But who knows.
Plastic surgery-- listen, I-- I'm all for the plastic surgery. Bitch, I want to get some stuff done on my own. But-- and I guess-- I don't think celebrities need to let us know when they got stuff done. That's their prerogative if they want to. But bitch, we see you, OK?
Another person that we see very clearly these days-- (SINGING) I saw the sign. And I opened-- (SPEAKING) is Miss Doja Cat.
Now, I'm a big Doja Cat fan. A friend of mine introduced me to her song, "move, bitch, I'm a cat." Like, that's-- I've been liking her since then. And a lot of allegations have come out about her. Number one, she had that song in 2015 that she put out, didn't do nothing. But she was speculated that it was making fun of police brutality survivors, or police brutality homicides like Sandra Bland, people saying it was racist, and yada, yada, yada.
And Doja Cat is half black. So I'm not-- and she's saying that the song was not-- it was not making fun of police brutality. I mean, I'm not in her brain. I don't know-- she never said-- she never hinted that she did. But everyone is speculating that she did.
So that, I'm going to leave alone. But her involvement with incels is where I'm taking her to task. So incel stands for involuntarily celibate, and it stands for nerdy guys who have a really hard time getting-- like, hooking up, whether in college or just in life.
And incels, they promote a lot of-- like, a lot of misogyny. They-- they're not a nice group or subsection of people. And she's roped-- like, they-- they're, like, on Only Fans. And they find women on Only Fans, and they screenshot their stuff, or they download the videos, or they get it however way they can, and they share it with their family. Like, that is fucking shady. That's what a lot of incel people/folks do.
So they're very problematic. And Doja Cat, she would, like-- like, people, like, shared, like, receipts of her in these group chats and these voice chats with incel folk. And people have shared the screenshots and the videos. Some of them were still this year, like weeks ago. It's not something she did, like, back in like 2015, 2014, whatever. These are, like, weeks ago that she did this.
And you know, this company has since come out saying that Doja Cat was never part of any misogynistic or racist rhetoric in the chat rooms or the videos. But I'll let you decide. You guys watch-- let's, like, watch a video, and let's make a conscious decision together.
DOJA CAT: I'm going to start with, I'm very sorry to anybody who's taken offense, to anybody who's--
[CLAPS]
--to anybody who's-- who I've hurt-- who I've hurt.
[SLAPS THIGHS]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: You know what I mean? Like, I mean, I don't know, girl, this is--
[PROLONGED WAILING "EH" EXPRESSING DOUBT]
Again, they were taken this month. And it's just-- it's just not cool. She went-- she did an-- she did a written statement on-- on Instagram saying, "I shouldn't have been in some of those chatroom sites. But I personally have never been involved in any racist conversations. I'm sorry to everyone I've offended."
She also said that she-- she also goes on to say that she is a black woman. "Half of my family is black, from South Africa, and I'm very proud of where I come from."
You know, she-- but I guess, in all of this, she took responsibility for going into the chat. She took responsibly for her writings and her recordings. But she's just stating that they were not racist, and that she's not been involved in that rhetoric. So I think time will tell. I mean, we know when motherfuckers are shady, and racist, and problematic. Like, we know. Like, us, like, we feel that we know. So let's see what Doja Cat does with all of this.
Moving on, I want to talk about-- someone I really respected as a kid was Amanda Bynes. Like, she was honestly at the forefront of a lot of big stuff as a kid. Like, she had her own comedy sketch show when she was, like, a teenager. She had, like, all these movies. She was the it girl back then. Remember the-- the Amanda-- was it the Amanda Bynes? No, just "The Amanda Show." Just "The Amanda show." And the movie, "She's the Man." Like, Amanda Bynes was great.
And you know, she had that big downfall when she said all that shit about RuPaul. You all remember that? She had, like, a lot of stuff going on. And she blamed it on drug use, and having mental disorders.
And she seems to be on the up and up. So I wanted to give Amanda Bynes a big old shout-out. I don't know if she watches "The X Change Rate." Maybe she do, maybe she don't. I don't know. [CHUCKLES] But she-- she went on the IG and she posted a photo. She's getting her bachelor's degree from Fashion Institute of California, trying-- and she's trying to get a 4.0 GPA. And she's looking forward to starting her-- an online store is one of her future goals. And she spent the last two months in treatment.
Now, she also, this year, announced that she was engaged to that guy Paul. And she announced that they were pregnant. They posted a sonogram, then deleted the sonogram. And she also debuted this rose-- this heart face tattoo. It's, like, now, I'm someone that has very bold tattoos in my life-- a hand tattoo, a face tattoo. But, I mean, this is a heart tattoo, like, right under her cheek.
It's a little-- you know, live your life. It's a little much for my taste. But at least she is getting treatment, and she's getting the help that she needs, and she's found love in her life. Honestly, treatment-- love is all we need, ain't it? Ain't love all we need, girl?
So hopefully Amanda Bynes is doing fine. The only thing I'm worried about is her partner Paul. Apparently her parents don't approve of Paul, because they're not allowing Amanda-- because she's under a conservatorship with her mom, Lynn Bynes. And it's kind of like what Britney's under with her dad. Everyone was like, #FreeBritney.
So Amanda Bynes is under a conservatorship. And her mom was like, no, you're not getting married, which makes me think that her mom doesn't approve of the relationship, which makes you think that this relationship may be toxic, and which makes me think that maybe this partner, Paul, has something to do with Amanda's spin and her downfall. I don't know. But that's weird how her mom was like, no, I'm not allowing you to marry this dude when it seems to bring her so much happiness.
[CLEARS THROAT]
So Amanda, good luck to you. Keep on taking care of yourself. And of all the kids from the '90s-- early '90s, 2000s, we love you, Boo. Mwah. And that's the stories for this (SINGING) wee-eek.
What if, in high school, instead of having Mrs. Smilowitz for your sixth period Spanish class, you had Señorita Aventura and her chancla? Well, you know what? Your wish is my command.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
PIXIE AVENTURA: Hola. Señorita Pixie Aventura here. And today we're learning about the word cerulean. But I don't know, I'm feeling some kind of way today, like I'm the substitute teacher. I need some help with the blackboard.
Cerulean as an adjective describes a shade of blue ranging between azure-- a bright blue-- and a darker sky blue. It could also mean, resembling the sky, sky-colored, sky blue. I mean, whatever blue it is, it all looks the same when you're on your back and your legs are up.
The word cerulean comes from the Latin word, caeruleus, meaning blue, which in turn probably comes from the word caelulum, meaning heaven or sky. I mean, look at me, I'm giving you all kinds of sky-color blue. You've got the lake, dark, midnight, into, like, just sunset blue, and then bright-as-day blue.
I mean, I have no preferences. Whenever you want to do it, I am down for it. Wait, what? What are we talking about? What was the question?
The first recorded use of cerulean as a color was in the year 1590. And then, in 1805, the Swiss chemist Andreas Hopfner created the pigment that would go on to be used as the paint color for the first time in 1860.
Now, what the hell were they painting with cerulean during that time besides skies? Huh, funny you should mention it. It was images of the Virgin Mary. She became wildly popular, and she was usually depicted wearing a blue robe, as befitting the queen of heaven.
Yes, mama. clear the runway. Mother of the house is here. Enter the Virgin Mary. Category is la virgen Maria. Aye, mi virgencita. Aye, mi virgen querida. Tens across the board. Can I get an amen? (SINGING) Amen.
The color came to symbolize truth, peace, virtue, and authority, everything that Monét thinks she has. Basically yo ass needed money to wear any type of blue during this time. And on that note, I think it's time to translate cerulean into Spanish. The translation is azul claro. That means light blue. Can you say azul claro? Claro que sí. Good job.
[CLAPS]
It's acting time. Now let's put it in a sentence. You go to your closet, and you select, oh, I don't know, a lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back.
But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis. It's actually azul claro. You're also blindly unaware of the fact that, in 2002, Oscar de La Renta did a collection of azul claro gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent, wasn't it, who showed us our azul claro military jackets. And then azul claro quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers.
Then it filtered down through the department stores. And then it trickled on down into some casual corner, where you no doubt fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that azul claro represents millions of dollars and countless jobs. And it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when in fact you're wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff. End scene.
That's all for today's lesson, kids. Thank you so much for passing by. And remember, during trying times, just look out at all those shades of azul claro in the sky and remember to breathe. We're going to be OK. Mwah. Hasta luego. My name is Señorita Pixie Aventura. Catch you next time.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Miss thing, Miss Thing, Miss Thing! I'm just gonna give y'all a few more adjectives to describe our first guest, OK? Charming, radiant, gorgeous, effervescent, charismatic. Need I go on? Let me powder my face so I ain't too oily. Let me-- [CHUCKLES] It's this powder puff, and make some noise for Eva Marcille.
EVA MARCILLE: Eee. Hey, darling. How are you?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, I am so good, diva. How are you?
EVA MARCILLE: I'm out here maxin' and relaxin', honey. How are you enjoying your coronacation?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] You know, I was just talking to a friend. I was like, this sucks, but when life gets back to normal, I'm going to hate getting on a plane. Like, I won't be able to make coin from my apartment.
EVA MARCILLE: Oh, absolutely. But the question is, will life ever really go back to normal? What's normal?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: I know. What-- do you-- do you think that we're going to-- I think that we're going to become a mask society, like, very-- very Asia. We're all going to have masks on all the time. No handshakes.
EVA MARCILLE: Well, I'll tell you what I won't be doing is hugging people that I don't know because they're your cousin. That I won't be doing anymore. No hugs. Because that's your friend.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: No. [CHUCKLES]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: How is everything over here at Chateau Sterling?
EVA MARCILLE: Listen, it is actually amazing. You know, we bought our house back in November. And we were on the road, hustling and hustling. And so with this pandemic, it gave us the opportunity to really sit down and enjoy our home.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah.
EVA MARCILLE: And it's been nice, you know. We have three little ones. The newest is only seven months. Actually, well, today, one-- he's eight months today.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, happy 8-month birthday, Maverick.
EVA MARCILLE: Yes. Maverick is 8 months today. And so to be able to, you know, spend the time with him as he gets bigger-- it seems like they just grow so fast. Marley was Maverick's age, like, yesterday. And now she's 6. So you know, it's given me an opportunity to really slow down, honey, and get my skin clear. Grow my edges back.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] I feel like you're probably a fierce at-home teacher mom. Are-- are you good with Marley? Do you have to, like, do all those classes?
EVA MARCILLE: This whiteboard-- I am not playing with this whiteboard. When I-- she graduated last week. But before she graduated, I was so sincere about it. I mean, even when we start the morning, it's a light breakfast, not even a full breakfast.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Word.
EVA MARCILLE: Because I need you to--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: OK.
EVA MARCILLE: --get up and get ready. So yes, we-- sincere about this homeschooling.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] So now the first time we saw you on "Housewives of Atlanta," you and NeNe were friends. But from part three and the reunion, I think that have expired. Is that safe to say?
EVA MARCILLE: I think-- I think what I have come to realize-- and I'm OK with it now. I think I was her friend, but she was not really my friend. And I think I'm realizing that now. And you know, truth hurts sometimes. Reality kind of, you know, swift kick in the ass. But--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: --it is what it is. I definitely held her in high regard, and had a level of respect and-- and expectation for her. Not like she was my pastor, but definitely, being a woman, to have gone through some things in life, and to have overcome a lot. You know, I looked up to her [INAUDIBLE] sister. And I don't know what she thought. But obviously, it wasn't the same thing I thought.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Well, with everything with-- I mean, OK, so Yovanna, Yowanna? I think-- I don't even know her name properly, child. Yo Yo-- we'll call her Yo Yo. [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: OK, yeah.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yo Yo. With Snakegate, I definitely believe-- I'm, like, on a 50-50. Some of it sounded plausible, but there was just some holes in the story. Like, do you think she was telling the whole truth?
EVA MARCILLE: This is my [INAUDIBLE] watch this show, you know I will be the first person not to want to believe Yo Yo, Mrs. Yovanna, because we have a sketchy, you know, start. So I'm definitely looking at her side-eye.
But you gotta look at the facts. The facts are NeNe was not there to defend herself, left because the girl was coming to tell the truth, slapped her with a cease and desist so she didn't speak her truth, which is, if there's nothing to hide--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Why?
EVA MARCILLE: --why does it matter? So my thing is, is not that I believe every single thing that comes out of her-- Yovanna's mouth, but what does she have to hide?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah.
EVA MARCILLE: That's my question.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah, like, why run? I'm like, this is the moment. Like, you've been talking up all this shit. Like, this-- this is your [INAUDIBLE] to be like, actually, Yovanna, you said this, and set the record straight. But she ran, girl.
EVA MARCILLE: And look, I'm-- I'm not saying Yovanna's a perfect person. I felt like she came on there and was like, yeah, that was my homegirl, and we were supposed to set y'all up. And that was the plan. Not saying it was a cool plan, but, like, obviously there was some involvement there.
I was just-- I was floored. I was flabbergasted. I knew it wasn't what we all thought it was. So I thought it was Marlo.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah, I--
EVA MARCILLE: So I had--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Watching it, I was like, oh, it's definitely Marlo.
EVA MARCILLE: I would have bet my bottom dollar. I told everybody it was Marlo. I told Marlo it was Marlo.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [LAUGHS]
EVA MARCILLE: And then I had to literally eat my words and apologize. Because I feel like we all make mistakes. And we all have the ability to change. And the person that Marlo showed me who-- you know, she was initially versus who she's growing on me to be now, you know, [INAUDIBLE] bite my words. And I apologized to her in front of everybody. The same forum in which I said she was guilty, I, you know, ate my own words.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Which I think that's why the fans and the viewers like you so much. Because when people-- when people say, like, you-- you're not ashamed to own up to what you said. You're like, yeah, I said this. I'm like, my bad. Like, it is what it is.
EVA MARCILLE: But I'm not going to own up to what I didn't say. Y'all not going-- y'all not going to give me your projections, and your insecurities, and your personal issues, and your judgments on me. That, I won't take. But if I did something wrong, I will say I'm sorry.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Ooh, Eva, I love you.
EVA MARCILLE: [CHUCKLES]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Another person who, I have to say, I know she's-- she has a storyline this season-- but Tanya-- I think that Tanya is trying to do an--
EVA MARCILLE: It's "Tan-yuh."
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, see-- see, "Tan-yuh," "Tahn-yuh," Tisha.
EVA MARCILLE: Yes.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] Tanya. I thinks she's trying to pull an Eva, where you came in season 10, and then people wanted to see you on their TV. So you be-- now you're kind of holding your peach. I think Tanya thinks that's going to be her role. But she just come off to be so annoying. Is that the general consensus? Or do y'all vibe with her?
EVA MARCILLE: You know what? Coming into this season and even last season, I rocked with Tanya. You know, her-- her fiance and my husband went to college together [INAUDIBLE], have known each other for years. And so we came man with a little bit of a friendship because of that.
I talked to her daily. There was a lot of times when she didn't speak to anyone but me. But [INAUDIBLE] those tables turn, I tell you.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: They have a saying about how tables turn. She just-- I don't know. I don't expect her t take my gripes. But what I do expect her to be is her own person.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Right.
EVA MARCILLE: And that, I don't see. I don't know where she got lost in the throes of being-- like, she went [INAUDIBLE] own person to Porsha's lap-dog do girl. Like, what is happening here?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Like, such a switch.
EVA MARCILLE: And from last year, like, crying after NeNe told her to shove a peach up her vagina--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: You know what I'm saying? And (IMPERSONATING TANYA) oh my God, I'm so disgusted. Who speaks like that? (IN OWN VOICE) And now she's, like, her best-- I can't with her.
I know I don't trust her as far as I can throw her. And she's a thick one. No.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [LAUGHS]
EVA MARCILLE: At all.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [GLEEFUL SCREAM] I live, girl. I live. The read queen of "Real Housewives of Atlanta," Eva.
[LAUGHS]
Now, Eva, speaking of reads, now, Eva, I come from a very long line of shade. When you said PJ looked like Dennis, Eva, I know shade, I smell it a mile away. That was shade.
EVA MARCILLE: PJ does look like Dennis. This is the thing. The thing is, the shade is not that she looks like him. The shade is that she has a problem with the fact that she looks him.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
EVA MARCILLE: Because my-- my son looks like me. I don't think that that's bad. I don't think that means he's feminine. I don't think that that means anything. My daughter looks like her donor. I've never felt offended by the fact that she, you know, looks like him. My other son looks like-- I don't get offended.
So the question is, why you so mad? Because I didn't mean nothing by it. The baby looks like her daddy.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: It's undeniable. The baby looks just like Dennis. Like, no shade.
EVA MARCILLE: Why is she so mad, to where she literally made it her whole storyline?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: Like, it was her-- out of all she went through this year, her whole storyline was, I said her baby looks like her dad with a bow, meaning a girl [INAUDIBLE] of her father, just like him.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah. So it's safe to say you and Porsha are not on good terms right now. Got it. Got it.
EVA MARCILLE: Tomorrow, later, day after today, I'm cool on her.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: I'm cool. Because you know what? This is my thing. If it's a misunderstanding or if you've decided that I have went so far, like, you're cool on me, that's fine. But the tit for tat [INAUDIBLE], especially when you know my intention and you know me genuinely, did not come for you, you know that I was not talking about your kid, you know that. So you need a storyline and you need a moment, boo boo, do you. I get it. But I'm not going to go down this road with you, because I've got to get up and go to work in the morning at 6:00 in the morning. I work at "Smiley Morning Show." So I don't have time.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: See, and that's another thing. You see, like, that's how electric you are. You went to, like-- you stepped into-- to "Rickey Smiley" and "Dish Nation" to-- when she was on maternity leave.
EVA MARCILLE: Well, let me clarify-- yes, let me clarify.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: OK.
EVA MARCILLE: I am a co-host on "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show." That is my paid contract gig. I filled in for "Dish Nation" before Portia was ever pregnant, when Gary had cancer. That was I when I first filled in.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Got it.
EVA MARCILLE: Then I filled in for Da Brat when she went on a vacation.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh!
EVA MARCILLE: Then they decided they liked me. So every time someone was out, they called me.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Got you.
EVA MARCILLE: Then Porsha needed to go on maternity leave. So they thought, instead of finding somebody to fill in while she's on maternity leave, Eva, do you mind? No problem. Be clear, Porsha has no check to give nor to take. She has no job to hire nor to fire. She did not hire me for "Dish Nation."
MONÉT X. CHANGE: See, she made it seem like that.
EVA MARCILLE: She made it seem like she did. Now, don't get me wrong, Porsha does an amazing job on "Dish Nation." She is hilarious. She is relatable. I'm not going to take from her because I don't like her. You know what I'm saying? The girl does her thing. [INAUDIBLE] coming in there trying to step on toes.
Now, where she feels threatened, I don't know, because that was never the case. I never wanted to work there. I never asked to work there. I was asked. I never asked. I was asked to work there. I did not take the job. I decided to go to "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show" from 6:00 to 10:00 every morning. And I love my gig. I absolutely love it.
Porsha was never on "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show," and I was never contracted to "Dish." It's a big misunderstanding. And I think it's something she likes to perpetuate because she likes to make people [INAUDIBLE] gave me something.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, 100%, 100%. Which, another point on the season which I kind of get irritated by, and I really vibe with you on that, too-- when they started-- when they tried to police your blackness about the whole nappy-headed comment show. It's like you are a black woman. I--
EVA MARCILLE: Listen--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: That was so lots on me.
EVA MARCILLE: I said a lot more on the reunion. Mind you, it's edited. It's a three-part reunion. There are a lot of storylines, right?
But let me say it very clearly on here, I will not be told, as a [INAUDIBLE] woman, what I can and cannot say, what colloquialisms I can and can't use. I can say edges, but I can't say ashy. I can say nappy, but I can't say redbone. We're not doing that. My mother's black, my father is black, my husband is black, my children [INAUDIBLE]. --a graduate of an HBCU. My husband is a double-graduate of an HBCU, with a law degree. So--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Spell it out for, them, girl. Yes.
EVA MARCILLE: --choose to use today, you will not dictate. Because you-- I don't know, but I wasn't there on the day of color association and assignments. God didn't ask me what color of brown you wanted to be. He just said, you're beautifully black. Go and be.
And so you're not going to tell me what part of the community I can and can't be in, because colorism does exist.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Right.
EVA MARCILLE: You know what I'm saying? My-- I have brothers darker than you, I have brothers lighter than you. You know what I'm saying? Black beauty runs the gamut. And I'm not going to play and perpetuate the idea of the "who thinks who is cuter?" I'm fly. I'm dope. If I was dark, if I was light, if I was thick, if I was thin, it don't matter. So you're not going to take that away from me, because God gave me the color he gave me. That's your insecurity, not mine. I can't stand that.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yes! Oh my God, you just-- thank you for saying that. Because I was watching it. I was cringing at my TV. I'm like, how-- do not police this black woman's blackness. Like, what are you-- what-- what is that? You can't her how black she is.
EVA MARCILLE: But she can say ashy, she can say edges, and she can call people bald-headed, and all of that, right? Because God made her a little bit darker brown. That's why so she can say all of that stuff, and I can't? You know, I got my hair pressed with the pressing comb, and the grease burned my scalp and my ear, like every other little black girl.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES]
EVA MARCILLE: [INAUDIBLE]. I chose to go natural like everyone else. We chose not to do the perm like everyone else. Like, don't play me. I'm as black as they come. We come in every color. And don't fool these white people either--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Exactly.
EVA MARCILLE: --and let them think that we are anything else. We are all together here.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Exactly, exactly. Thank you for saying that, Eva. Because listen, you talking to some light-skinned black girl who gets probably bullied by her friends, like, oh, you just-- you white or whatever. Yeah, it's so-- it's so important.
EVA MARCILLE: But then you go into a white community, and you-- I don't feel like I'm white, and they don't think I'm white. So then where do I belong? If I don't belong in my own community because you don't identify with my color because I'm lighter than you, even though I'm as black as you, I done fried the same chicken as you, can fry it better than you, was on the drill team. You know what I'm saying? All of that.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah.
EVA MARCILLE: So I don't know. I can't stand it, but I think it's very, very wack. I think it's very simple. I think that, and then the whole-- the homophobia, I can't do it.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah.
EVA MARCILLE: Who's gay, who's not gay-- who cares? Unless you're in the bed with me, who cares? I think it's disgusting.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Eva, girl.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
EVA MARCILLE: --they edit some parts. They don't let us say all our piece.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [LAUGHS] The last thing I want to talk to you about is, how do you feel-- because obviously we all fell-- fell in love with you in "Top Model," which I-- one of my-- I'm not just saying this because you're here, I swear to God. One of my favorite pictures in "Top Model" ever is the motherfucking spider picture. Yeah, you know. You know. Yeh-heh-hess! I said it.
EVA MARCILLE: [CLAPS]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: With everything going on with Tyra, do you-- like, "Top Model" had some--
EVA MARCILLE: They better leave my mother alone.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: I mean, they had some risky photo shoots, Eva. The race changing, the-- it was-- I watched seasons 1 through 22 back in the fall. Like, I just binge-watched it on Hulu. And I was like, oh, shit, that's a little crazy.
But what I think is that it was just a different time. And Tyra was trying to teach girls how to adapt in industry because industry wouldn't adapt to you. So I think that's what she was [INAUDIBLE].
EVA MARCILLE: And not even just how to adapt to the industry, but showing what the industry was. Because I think a lot of the nastiness and the dirtiness was hidden. You know what I'm saying? So to really talk about those things that are not accepted and that are frowned upon, which the regular person would be like, what's the problem?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Right.
EVA MARCILLE: [INAUDIBLE]. But Tyra has made a way, personally, for hundreds through "Top Model." But generationally and culturally, to thousands to millions. Just redefining [INAUDIBLE] we look like. The thicker girl, the shorter girl, the girl whose skin isn't perfect, be it vitiligo or be it acne. You know what I'm saying?
So what Tyra did was she challenged us to look beyond what we were taught beauty was, and to really redefine it, and to find in ourselves. And for that alone, you got to give her her just due.
Now, I mean, at the end of the day, my husband has a saying-- "I am nothing but a ball of flaws stitched with good intentions."
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Ooh.
EVA MARCILLE: And that's who Tyra is. You know what I'm saying? Tyra's not perfect by any means. But the work that Tyra has done so far on this Earth, baby, it's to be commended. She has done an amazing work for the black community, for beauty, for women, for black women, like, on a whole other level. For anyone who has ever felt different, for anyone with freckles, for anyone not being with the in crowd. I wasn't popular. I wasn't cool until I did a show called "Top Model." That was the first time I was actually the in crowd, like, the popular one.
And my beauty that I never even recognized as beautiful was relatable to millions. You know what I'm saying? And that transcends beyond.
So you know, I'm not saying what Tyra did across the board has always been perfect. But what I can tell you is that her intention has been. And for that, you know, your-- your hat goes off-- my hat goes off to her. And I forgive her for what she did that she--
You know, I think, if, given the opportunity, she would do things differently. If I look back, there are things I would do differently in life.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Same.
EVA MARCILLE: Especially given what I know today, right? So we're using today's knowledge judging yesterday's mistakes. We can't do that to her, especially with what she's done for us. Y'all better not come for Mother. That's Queen Mother. Leave Tyra Lynn Banks alone, OK?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Well, said, Eva. Eva, I could talk to you for literally years. When you come to New York again and the studio's open, please come down so we can have a proper tiki with a cocktail and play some fun games.
EVA MARCILLE: I'm planning on being out there in October for-- to see Jay Manuel for something. So I will hit you when I come out there.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: OK, please. I'll-- I'll DM you on Insta.
EVA MARCILLE: Yeah. Well, we can get each other's phone numbers. We don't have to-- don't be grand. Don't be grand, Monét.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Listen, I didn't know if you wanted to. I'm like, I don't want to-- I don't want to overstep. I don't know if Eva wants little old me--
EVA MARCILLE: No, I'm gonna slide you my information. And you gonna be my new good Judy, honey.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: OK. Stunning!
EVA MARCILLE: Yes.
[BOTH LAUGH]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Have a good day, my love, and say hello to the kids.
EVA MARCILLE: I will. Stay beautiful. It's so fun playing with you.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: You know, daily-- yes, I said daily; don't judge-- I get tricked into subscribing to an Only Fans account that's as exciting as a Jayne Mansfield meet-and-greet.
Lucky for us, Jasmine Rice has done all the heavy lifting. And she left no jockstraps unturned.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
JASMINE RICE LABEIJA: Hello, my dear subjects. It's your queen, Jasmine Rice Labeija from the--
[ROLLING THE LETTER R]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
--House of Labeija here in New York City. And I'm here to evaluate and fellatiate--
[GAGGING]
--and penetrate the trends of--
[FAN OPENS]
--Only Fans for you. Ooh, fan.
[TITTERS]
[LAUGHS]
Today's page I'm going to review is hosted by [LAUGHS] I forgot his name. [LAUGHS]
Oh my God, I'm a fucking goldfish. I feel like fish today.
(EXCITEDLY) Tanner Thomas! Yes, Tanner Thomas. His handle is @tanntaleyesing. Yes, that is spelled just like how it sounds, which I have no idea. I'm going to leave it right there for you.
[LAUGHS]
English is my second language on a good day. So Mr. Thomas is what I would describe as a cisgendered white male. Or he might be a light-skinned Latino. I don't really know, because, you know, I have small Asian eyes. But he looks very privileged to me. He is what I would describe as a twink. Ooh, I kind of want a Twinkie now. He's not really that built. He has very lean muscles. He has a weight limit. So if I got on top of him, he'll probably break. The only position that Mr. Tanner Thomas can have with me is he you used me as a bouncy house.
[SPRINGS SQUEAKING]
He's very pretty in the face. He has darker features. He has dark hair and darker eyes. I think he is more on the smoother side. This panda got lasered. It's just like a beached whale.
[KISS]
I'm not going to really review photos here, because I'm more of a visual queen. Like, I want motion pictures. I want, like, action shots. It seems as though he has a lot of oral videos more than actual penetration. I know there are some people who get off on oral videos. I personally like to get all the holes used in the body. I'm a greedy ho. Stuff it all in.
His technique-- is there. I think we are from two different schools, you know what I mean? I'm more of the school of, like, the COVID-19 test, like, shove it all the way in. He's more on, like, the mouth area. He doesn't really go all the way deep. It's very, like, hand motion, like.
[SQUEAKS LIPS SOFTLY]
I'm a competitive eater, just like--
[GAGGING]
[HUMMING]
--kind of a moment. Some people are into that, you know, delicate flower action. I'm more of, like, a full blooming onion action. Preferences-- his page, to me, is very-- (SING-SONG) umm-- it's just vanilla. I just prefer chocolate. There's no, like, je ne sais quoi about his content in my opinion.
His lighting isn't the best. His camera angles aren't the best. And you know, sometimes I do like those kind of settings. It's like a spy cam moment, like you're at a spa, like a massage parlor. "You're not supposed to be recorded, but you're recording it anyway" kind of a feeling.
He does have some good content. You know how these Only Fans influencers, they like to collab with each other, which I live. But those contests, I have to say, are very highly produced. It seems as though he didn't film it. It's like more of a collaboration. But baby, you are a beautiful man. You're supposed to show the best angles. Invest in a nice tripod and a ring light that will make your booty hole just glow. Baby, wait until my Only Fans content drops.
So Tanner has 109 posts, 133 pictures. [INAUDIBLE] she's a selfie queen. 64 videos and 383 likes. 3-8-3, mm. I don't know why that number makes me giggle, but it makes me giggle. Asian, math, numbers.
Tanner's bundle package deal is this, baby, OK? And bundles are very important, just like this human wig. Eight bundles, 30 inches. You know I like a good length.
His monthly subscription starts at $10 a month. His other bundles are three months and six months, and annual. The three-month deal starts at $22.50, which is 25% off. And six months starts at $42. And the annual 12-month subscription starts at $78, which is 35% off. Baby, that's a good deal, honey.
How many fans do I get him out of five?
[FAN FLUTTERS LOUDLY]
Two. And this is why. You're trying to make money, honey. OK, you need to invest some a little bit. Go on Amazon Prime. Get yourself a little bundle deal with a tripod and a ring light. It might take a little bit to get to you because, even with Amazon Prime, it's going to take a week because of this quarantine.
Everything is preference. Everything is subjective. I'm entitled to my opinion. You're entitled to yours. Just because I'm right and you're wrong doesn't mean anything, OK? But I have to say, if you like that smooth, vanilla, beautiful twinkie kind of sexual feel, please go check him out. His bundles are very, very affordable. So do it. Support your LGBTQI+ community members.
That is all for this week. Tune in next week to see who I'll review. Will I be a fan?
[FAN FLUTTERS LOUDLY]
Maybe.
[TITTERS]
So delicate. Peek-a-boo.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: When allegations about the season 12 contestant Sherry Pie bubbled to the surface, our next guest found himself at the helm of the scandal. Here to share his side of the story, let's welcome the lovely Ben Shimkus.
BEN SHIMKUS: Hi.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Hi, Ben.
BEN SHIMKUS: How's it going?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: I'm good. How are you?
BEN SHIMKUS: I'm so good-- so good. Here in quarantine, living my life in my parents' basement.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, are you-- wait, where-- where is that?
BEN SHIMKUS: It's in Upstate New York, about four hours north of New York.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, listen, all the gays are leaving Williamsburg and going upstate. You're one of them.
BEN SHIMKUS: I'm-- that's me. Yep.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] Also, your last name-- a lot of you can't pronounce your last name. I'm like, it's not that hard. It's Shimkus. What is so hard to pronounce in Shimkus?
BEN SHIMKUS: It's phonetic.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Right. I don't see what the problem is.
BEN SHIMKUS: It's been so funny to [INAUDIBLE] people completely butcher my last name, but then also just ruin Joey's last name too.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, yeah, it's crazy.
BEN SHIMKUS: Not even close.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: So-- so Ben, so what prompted you to make the Facebook status? Like, were you, like, waiting for the right-- like, did you just feel like the right time was then? Or, like, what prompted you to make it?
BEN SHIMKUS: It was-- it was a few different things. So at the time, when I-- when I made the Facebook status, I was working on a cruise ship.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, really?
BEN SHIMKUS: And so-- yeah. And so, like, whenever-- when you're on a cruise ship as a crew member, you have to pay for Wi-Fi. So the only reason why I posted it exactly when I did was because I was able to get off of the ship that day, and go to a restaurant, and get free Wi-Fi.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Work.
BEN SHIMKUS: So that was one of the big reasons. But otherwise, like, I mean, you know, it's-- it's the same thing as what happens with a lot of other victims. Like, you are coming forward because you see a person that you don't want to have the limelight because they've done something. They've created some sort of tragedy in your life that you don't want them to perpetuate that tragedy towards other people.
And so [INAUDIBLE] recognize that, like, Sherry is going to have a big platform. So why-- why are we giving this to her when the public is not aware of, like, how she's handled her platforms in the past?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah. So have-- had you spoken out about it before, or was it just, [INAUDIBLE] the first time you, like, had, like, said it out loud?
BEN SHIMKUS: So I-- this happened to me four and a half years ago. It was when I was a senior in college. And so I told professors in my school. I reported it to the Student Resources Board at my school. And there's a little bit of shady-- there was a shady story there, too, that my school actually hired Sherry to come back and perform in a drag show, later on that semester, with Alaska and Phi Phi. Alaska and Phi Phi had no idea that this was happening. [INAUDIBLE] at all.
But yeah, like, basically--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: So after you had went forth about the allegation, they went and hired Joey later on, that same year.
BEN SHIMKUS: That same year, like, two months later.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [SIGHS] So-- so in the whole back-and-forth of the email and the scandal, like, when did you put 2 and 2 together, like, oh, this is bullshit, and this is Joey?
BEN SHIMKUS: So I mean, there were lots of, like, little, tiny hints that this might not be right that happened throughout the time. So I was definitely, like, one of the first victims that-- that this all happened to. So I don't think that Joey had this, like, completely smoothed out as a process yet.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Which is so crazy to think about, that, like, he had done it to so many people he had, like, a process.
BEN SHIMKUS: Yeah, yeah. So and, like, that-- like, I've said this a few times, but that exposes a bit of my privilege in the circumstance too, and that, like, you know, the things that we end up hearing happened to Josh, and that happened to Daniel and some of the other victims, like, they did not happen to me.
So but yeah, there were, like, typos. There were, like, weird times when like I wouldn't hear from Allison at all. And so eventually I reached out to Playwrights Horizons. And when I reached out to them, they were like, oh yeah, we-- we don't know Allison Mossey at all. And that was when the whole jig was up.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Oh, OK, wow. So now-- so you mentioned something of the stories. So have you and some of the other accusers-slash-victims, have you all, like, I mean, not shared stories. It sounds so trivial. But, like, have you guys spoken about the incidences to one another?
BEN SHIMKUS: A bit. A lot of people have reached out to me directly. We haven't, like, created a group or anything like that.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Yeah, right.
BEN SHIMKUS: But yeah, and I actually did not know-- I would not have known Josh's story and Daniel's story if it weren't for the-- the journalism-- the, like, stories that came out--
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
BEN SHIMKUS: Yeah.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Got it, got it, got it. So have you-- have you heard anything from Joey-slash-Sherry at all since it all came out?
BEN SHIMKUS: Yeah. So--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Really?
BEN SHIMKUS: Yeah, I did. About an hour and a half after I posted it, Joey left a voicemail on my phone. And that's-- that's the only thing that I've heard. But it was--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: And was he apologetic? Was he, like, this didn't happen? Was it remorseful?
BEN SHIMKUS: It eventually got there. So the whole voicemail is 2 minutes and 13 seconds long. And the first, like, minute and a half was him talking about, like, his mental health and his journey. And then, about a minute and a half in, then he eventually says I'm sorry.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [SIGHS]
[HESITANT MURMUR]
You know, it brings me back to the season 12 BUILD interview they did. And towards the end, that segment when Joey was like, yeah, people deal with mental health issues and sex allegations. So it's so crazy that he keeps on recognizing his mental health, but almost using that as a crutch. Do you feel the same way?
BEN SHIMKUS: It completely qualifies every piece, like, how we, as victims, are supposed to handle it in his viewpoint. And so, like, I give almost no credit to him for talking about that.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Talking about it, yeah.
BEN SHIMKUS: It's not about him suddenly becoming a-- like, an advocate for people that are going through a mental health crisis. It's definitely important for him to say, like, this is why you shouldn't hold me accountable.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Well, which brings me to my next question. Speaking of "Drag Race," do you feel "Drag Race" did the right thing by editing him down? Or would you wish it took him out completely? Like, how-- how do you feel about it?
BEN SHIMKUS: Sure, so I think that the response and what we've seen in the US has been amazing. I've been, like, super proud of "Drag Race."
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Like, I've forgotten-- some scenes, I literally forgot that they were even on there at all. Like, legitimately, like, forgot.
BEN SHIMKUS: Completely gone. And, like, yeah, and to-- to masterfully, like, create a full season where someone who's quite-- like, could have won was completely taken out, it is so well done on their end.
Now, the only-- the only qualm that I've had is, like, I've heard reports from people that watch "Drag Race" from other countries that the-- like, the edit that they got was different than the edit that we saw in the US. And so, like, Sherry was in more edits. And then, like, I've heard some reports that, like, in certain countries, that, like, the whole, like, black screen with white lettering, saying, like, "in light of recent allegations," that whole thing that happened at the beginning of every episode, that that may not have happened in some of that countries that [INAUDIBLE].
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Wow. One thing, in the US, they were really taking it-- I'm not saying other countries weren't taking it seriously. I'm not saying that. But even though, it's-- I guess it may have flew-- it was kind of a big thing to fly under the radar. I don't know.
That's weird. Is that, like, definitely?
BEN SHIMKUS: So it's-- I mean, I've heard about it from-- there-- there's, like, a person that's from Germany that I heard about that from that was, like, a fan of "Drag Race" that reached out to me and was like, yo, this is, like, completely, like, Sherry's still in it. And then I heard about it from, like, a few other people, like, through, like, the Sherry Pie fan club accounts that exist on Instagram. So whether or not we're really dealing with, like, the highest level of-- of intelligence there is, like, questionable. But you know.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: So my last comment or question I want to ask you is, do you think Sherry is sorry? Because I mean, I know some people in nightlife, and they think-- like, they honestly think that she's kind of living for it, and she's, like, everyone is talking about me.
But again, I don't really know Sherry-slash-Joey. We've had very limited interaction. So how-- how do you feel about it?
BEN SHIMKUS: I mean, so, Alexis Michelle just recently talked about this on Trinity's podcast, that, like, there was apparently some kind of like contact between the two of them where Joey showed absolutely no remorse for the circumstance. And, like, that in-- with my history, and having known Joey for as much-- as long as I did, that doesn't shock me, really. So--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Wow.
BEN SHIMKUS: [CHUCKLES] Unfortunately. But--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: And-- and who knows the amount of victims that may be out there that haven't come out yet, or will ever come out. So that's kind of-- yeah, big reach.
BEN SHIMKUS: I've seen-- I've said, like, I have about 40 people that reached out to me that talked about their experiences. But what's not included in those 40 people-- so, like, of those 40 people, five of them-- well, OK, so let me start.
So the nine people that have come forward with their stories and, like, spoke to press sources are all included in those 40 people.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Got it.
BEN SHIMKUS: Great. There are-- there's one person that I included in my original Facebook post that was-- like, has never reached out to me. So I know for a fact that this happened to him too, and he hasn't said anything. So I know that there definitely are more people that this could have happened to.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Well listen, my dear, I think that a lot of us are-- are really applauding your for your bravery and your courage to talk about it, because it is such a crazy thing to talk about. And sexual assault survivors and-- who have the courage to speak out should definitely be applauded. And I hope that you-- when you watch this season, you happen to see some clip from some country who didn't edit it out, you don't get triggered.
BEN SHIMKUS: [CHUCKLES] Yeah, no. I-- I will be OK. I think that our community has done such an amazing job of listening to our stories, and, like-- and hearing what I had to say about this, and hearing what all of us had to say about this. And so I think that this has turned into a moment that, like, at one point was really triggering for me. But I feel super empowered by this. And that all-- that all is because of people in drag. That's-- you know, that was you and Bob on--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [LAUGHS]
BEN SHIMKUS: "Rivalry."
MONÉT X. CHANGE: On "Sibling Rivalry," we talked about it. [CHUCKLES]
BEN SHIMKUS: Yes, but you guys-- you guys said so many things that, like, at that time I was feeling. Like, I was really questioning why people were asking me the, like, "why now" narrative as much as they were. And you guys both talked about it. You said, like, why are you asking him that question?
So, but, like, that kind of advocacy-- you know, talking about Marti Gould Cummings talking about this as much as she did.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Who?
BEN SHIMKUS: --and [INAUDIBLE].
MONÉT X. CHANGE: I'm kidding.
BEN SHIMKUS: [LAUGHS] And, like, Jasmine [INAUDIBLE], Cissy Walken, like, all of these amazing drag queens. So it's like this happened because of drag. So--
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Well, listen, what are you up to now? What are you-- do you have any projects coming up? You want-- you want to tell us about a plug?
BEN SHIMKUS: No. Hire me.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [LAUGHS] Ben, thank you--
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
BEN SHIMKUS: So please-- thank you.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: [CHUCKLES] Thank you for coming and talking. And stay strong, my love. And wash yo hands.
BEN SHIMKUS: Will do. You too.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: OK. Bye, love. I'll talk to you soon.
Well, y'all, that's it. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of "The X Change Rate." It truly was fun. Obsessed with Eva. Best friends. And that's it. Wash your hands. Read a bitch if you need to. And remember to always keep your currency in check. Peace.
Hey y'all.
- Hey y'all.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: I have not done a meet-and-greet in literally so long. I miss the fans. [COUGHS]
- Coronavirus.
- Coronavirus.
- Girl, the only person I see on a regular basis is Tom Nook.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Who is Tom Nook?
- Ugh. Old people.
- You black bitch.
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Listen, I think that we should do, like, a little private meet-and-greet. And have, like, a kiki and a little digital getdown, you know what I'm saying?
- A digital what?
MONÉT X. CHANGE: A digital getdown, girl. It's like, it's going to be really sensual and fierce, and a little private moment with the fans.
- You know, that is actually a really good idea. They could screen-record, take selfies, just all the same things you could do at a regular meet-and-greet.
- Yes. I can't wait to meet everybody. It's going to be a cute little kiki.
- Yah. [CLAPS]
MONÉT X. CHANGE: Make sure you get tickets to our digital getdown on May 31. They're on sale now. See you there.
