RuPauls Drag Race Season 18 faces backlash over alleged AI use

"RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 18 featured portraits of its contestants. Fans believe they were AI-generated. Home > Entertainment > TV Shows 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 18 faces backlash over alleged AI use Did RuPaul bring AI slop to the runway? By Belen Edwards Belen Edwards Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic. Read Full Bio on April 4, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard Credit: MTV RuPaul's Drag Race fans are calling out the show over alleged use of AI-generated artwork. SEE ALSO: Put Dr. Kelson from '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' The artwork appears in Season 18, episode 14, when host RuPaul Charles "paints" portraits of contestants Juicy Love Dion, Myki Meeks, Darlene Mitchell, and Nini Coco. Viewers were quick to point out that the portraits fell into the uncanny valley of AI slop, from the faint yellow filter on some images to some strange incongruities, like Juicy Love Dion's boa having three separate ends. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. On social media, fans and even former contestants like Season 16's Plasma expressed frustration over the show's possible use of AI. After all, RuPaul's Drag Race is a celebration of the art form of drag. Allegedly using AI feels like a betrayal of the very authenticity the series hopes to promote. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter Loading... Sign Me Up Use this instead By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! You May Also Like This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This is not the first time RuPaul's Drag Race has come under fire for its use of AI. Last year, RuPaul's Drag Race released a short film on its YouTube channel titled "Jinkx & Plasma’s Gay Adventure!" The short featured AI-generated recreations of iconic RuPaul's Drag Race moments, resulting in major criticism from fans. It has since been made private on YouTube. Related Stories How Bob the Drag Queen weaves hip hop and history in his new book Zero Waste Daniel is drag's sustainable fashion pioneer Brennan Lee Mulligan on the joys of 'Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens' Elvira on drag queens, Vincent Price, and her new cookbook — from hell! 'The Testaments' review: 'The Handmaid's Tale' sequel finds new power in its YA perspective Mashable has reached out to RuPaul's Drag Race production company, World of Wonder, for further comment. Topics Artificial Intelligence Belen Edwards Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic.