The Strange Tale Of The Drag Queen And The Possibly Dead Uber Driver
Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Robbie Turner, whose actual name is Jeremy Baird, might be the fishiest queen in Drag Race herstory. And that’s not because Robbie’s tuck is sublime, it’s because a story Robbie posted on Twitter and Facebook about getting into a fatal accident while riding in an Uber, sounds fishy as fuck.
According to The Stranger, Robbie, who lives in Seattle, posted a harrowing take on Twitter and Facebook about waking up after the accident and not really being sure exactly what happened. Robbie only knew that the driver died.
I just woke up. I’ve been in a car accident. I didn’t recollect it. I’m not certain what happened. My driver did not survive.
I’m home with barely a scratch, but when I was informed of what actually happened, my closest family and friends came to mind.
Wear a seatbelt. I did.
— Robbie Turner (@TheRobbieTurner) April 15, 2018
In a subsequent tweet, Robbie revealed more details about the accident.
Last night on my way home my Uber was struck by a drunk driver. I closed my eyes briefly & it happened. I heard it, but hit my head & it was over. They ran tests at the hospital, but outside of my shoulder feeling jammed & my right eye hurting, I only have a bruise. Grateful.
— Robbie Turner (@TheRobbieTurner) April 15, 2018
Understandably, there was an outpouring of sympathy and concern for Robbie. As The Stranger points out, Robbie is an international personality thanks to RPDR and the story received coverage from a number news outlets including Queerty, NewNowNext, and Instinct. Problem is, the only real source for this story is Robbie. In attempting to cover the story, The Stranger began doing due diligence by fact checking, and started coming up with more questions than there are Miss Vanjie memes.
The stranger tried to contact Robbie but did not hear back. They contacted Uber who said they had no knowledge of a fatal accident that night and had been trying to reach Robbie themselves but were unsuccessful. When The Stranger followed up again after the story blew up, Uber still had no confirmation that any such accident had occurred.
The Stranger also reached out to the coroner’s office for information on fatal crashes and they in turn, directed them to The County Public Health Communications Director. They said that they aren’t staffed to report on DUI crashes and directed them to the Seattle PD. That spokesperson said they were “not aware of anything like that occurring, nor are any of my colleagues aware of this accident”.
By this time, the story started smelling fishier than a Shamu shit. Fellow season 8 Drag Race queen Kim Chi also got in on side-eyeing Robbie.
Sad to think I was living while a imaginary driver was dying ?
— Kim Chi (@KimChi_Chic) April 19, 2018
The Stranger still has not been able to corroborate the story. Some local Seattle commenters and folks on Twitter suggest that this might not be Robbie’s first foray into the murky waters of making shit up for attention and general scam-foolery. Robbie hasn’t responded yet but did tweet promo for her show:
The show must go on… https://t.co/GBVAa0w3e5
— Robbie Turner (@TheRobbieTurner) April 16, 2018
Luuucy, you got some ‘splain’ to dooo!! Only time will tell if Robbie’s telling lies, half-truths, imagined truths or is simply trying to pull of the gag of the century. To which I say: Miss Vanjie.
Pic: Instagram