Carmen Carrera Plays Herself on “What Would You Do?”
Today, Carmen Carrera–famous for her unbridled nudity on season 3 of “Ru Paul’s Drag Race”– acts in a spot on an ABC television show called “What Would You Do?” as a New Jersey diner waitress. In the show, another actor portrays a longtime customer, supposedly disgusted to find out that Carmen was once “Christopher” and used to identify as “he.”
“Once upon a time, I was Chris — and now I’m Carmen,” says Carrera in the clip.
“I don’t think I can even eat here! This is disgusting!” Kevin, the actor, shrieks. “They have, like, freaks waiting tables!”
Weirdly, “What Would You Do?” aired an unbelievably similar episode in early March, as another Candid Camera-type sketch involving actors, one pretending to be the parent of a transgender child who “comes out” in public.
The show is hoping for inflammatory reactions from bystanders at a diner where the event was staged (also, the exact same setting of Carmen’s trans episode). Throughout, there are pronoun problems galore, an overwhelmingly sensationalist narrative, and the overriding sense that friendly bystanders consoling the faux trans person are brave in so doing.
The segment ends with Betsy and Ron, PFLAG members of Equality Florida, who try to talk some sense into the scene when a camera crew bursts out of hiding for the perverbal “gotcha” moment. Watch the video below.
About the Author
Wild Gender is an online magazine and creative hub born out of gratitude for the gift of full expression. We are dedicated to creative practices that celebrate gender fluidity, identity and expression. Wild Gender prioritizes visual art, creative writing, and journalistic work by trans/gender-variant individuals who have never before been published in a public venue. Run entirely by volunteers,we are always in search of writers, thinkers, and creators hoping to participate in our growing community.
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Tim
