EXCLUSIVE Family theme park apologises for drag queen act that left parents ‘horrified’: Boss confirms it will not take part in any future Pride celebrations after Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star used angle grinder on crotch during show
- Clip was filmed at Adventure Island in Southend on Sea, Essex, on Saturday
- Shows drag queen Crystal performed on first season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race
The owner of a family adventure park where parents were left ‘horrified’ by a drag queen act that was performed in front of children has profusely apologised for allowing the display to go ahead.
A clip showing the performance, at Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, was filmed on Saturday by a concerned parent who was watching with his young son.
It showed drag queen Crystal, who performed on the first season of the BBC’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race and whose real name is Colin Munro.
He was seen wielding an angle grinder and wearing fishnet tights, a leotard and a pair of high heels as more than 50 people including several children watched the event, which was being held to close the park’s Pride celebrations.
Performing to the tune of Scissor Sisters’ hit Filthy/Gorgeous, Crystal made thrusting motions with his hips and ran his hand up and down the angle grinder while using it to make sparks fly from a metal plate fixed to his crotch.
Philip Miller, executive chairman of Adventure Island, told MailOnline in a statement today that there had been ‘confusion’ as to ‘what we would allow or not’.
He added that the ‘grinding act’ was ‘definitely a nonstarter’ because it was not ‘family entertainment’ and vowed that the park will not participate in any future Pride celebrations, nor will Crystal be booked again.
A video showing a performer from hit TV show Ru Paul’s Drag Race suggestively dancing in front of an audience that included children has been condemned by parents. Filmed at Adventure Island in Southend on Sea, Essex, it shows drag queen Crystal, who performed on the first season of the BBC’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race and whose real name is Colin Munro
Crystal’s appearance at the weekend was the third year in a row that he had performed at Adventure Island, according to the star.
The star hit the headlines in 2021 when it emerged he was suing actor Laurence Fox after the Lewis star branded him and two other people a ‘paedophile’ on social media.
Mother-of-two Amanda, who lives in nearby Leigh on Sea and used to enjoy visiting Adventure Island with her children, told MailOnline she would not be returning after seeing the clip.
‘I won’t be going back and I won’t be taking my kids there,’ she said.
‘That is a line you don’t cross. That tells me everything you need to know about how they value children.’
The video was filmed by a friend of hers who was horrified when the act began while he was with his young child.
‘He was outraged and horrified. He was enraged by it,’ she said, adding that he normally enjoys taking part in Pride events, but that the display was ‘not ok’ because of the presence of children.
Mr Miller said today: ‘We humbly apologise to all of our loyal customers for any offence caused.
‘There was confusion between us and the act as to what we would allow or not as it were.
‘The grinding act was most definitely a nonstarter as we are ostensibly a family park and that is just not family entertainment.
‘Rest assured we will not be rebooking this act or participate in any future PRIDE celebrations it’s just not for us, we tried to be inclusive but it has backfired on us.’
Performing to the tune of Scissor Sisters’ hit Filthy/Gorgeous, Crystal makes thrusting motions with his hips and runs his hand up and down an angle grinder
The audience, which included children, watched on as the performer jived in fishnet tights, a leotard and a pair of high heels
Crystal performed on the first season of the BBC’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race and whose real name is Colin Munro
READ MORE: Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star Crystal launches legal action against Laurence Fox – along with Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp and gay rights campaigner
Also present during the event was Crystal’s fellow drag queen Aubrey Wodonga and dancer Lady Noelia.
Adventure Island posted pictures of the free event on Facebook and said: ‘Huge thank you to these incredible queens for coming to see us for the third year in a row!
‘We hope everyone had an incredible day of celebrations with us! Stay tuned for the huge group picture.’
They had previously urged attendees to ‘come dressed in your most colourful and fabulous outfits and celebrate love, diversity and inclusivity with us’.
The theme park boasts on its website of its family-friendly venue, which it says is ‘truly iconic’.
The operators of Adventure Island have been approached for comment.
Crystal insisted to MailOnline that he believes that ‘nothing’ he did in the performance was sexual.
‘My act is no different to what you might see on Britain’s Got Talent, from Lady Gaga on MTV, or from a street performer in Covent Garden.
‘This is deemed “sexual” solely because I was performing in drag.’
He added that he has been booked for three years in a row to perform at Adventure Island to mark their Pride celebrations.
In 2019, Crystal was the fifth drag queen to be eliminated from Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
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