Sharron Davies criticised for comparing drag to black face

Olympic medalist Sharron Davies has come under fire for comparing drag shows to black face.

The 56-year-old took to Twitter to say she is “fed up” of drag shows, claiming they are “a parody of what a real woman is”.

The comments were not well received, and several people involved in the drag scene responded to Davies to show their displeasure at her comments.

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She wrote: "Am I the only person fed up of drag shows? A parody of what a real woman is, like black face.

"Woman are juggling kids, rushing out a wholesome dinner, doing the laundry & cleaning, holding down a job all with period pains & leaky boobs if breast feeding. Enough of the stereotypes."

Several cast members of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK responded to the former swimmer.

Judge Michelle Visage said: "OR...you can see it for what drag actually IS, which is a celebration and homage of all things feminine, giving power to those who need it!

"Strong women aren't threatened by drag queens, but rather empowered by their chutzpah. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!"

Vinegar Strokes, who also appears in the drag musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie, responded: "My love, have you never thought that a majority of Drag Queens are celebrating woman and the fantastic achievements woman have made to shape the world. YOU do nothing but shape a stereotype!"

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who made a guest appearance on Drag Race, was also quick to admonish Davies.

She wrote: "Oh Sharon. You can’t underestimate the power of drag and how it empowers people who often feel like outsiders - they can find their family, grow in confidence, learn to love themselves and be who they really are.

"It can literally save lives. And it’s such a lot of FUN!"

Davies was labelled “racist” for comparing drag to black face, with one person tweeting: “The most impressive thing about that Sharron Davies tweet is how it managed to be sexist, homophobic and racist in less than 240 characters.”

But she bit back on such accusations, tweeting: "With mixed race kids & loads of wonderful friends from all over the world don’t think I can be accused of racism .. I’m not reducing anyone else’s struggle just saying promoting ridiculous stereotypes is dangerous, as is racism.

Read more: Female athletes will be 'thrown under the bus' at Olympic Games, says Sharron Davies

"It’s my personal opinion that I don’t like drag shows & find them demeaning. Promoting one view of being female when in my experience there is so much more to being a woman. Most of it very unglamorous."

It is not the first time she has been criticised for controversial views.

Earlier this year she was accused of being transphobic for tweeting “Binary sex matters” alongside an analogy about the human population dying out if you put a man and a trans woman on an island.

She has also been very outspoken in her views on Caster Semenya, saying the runner should be banned her and have her testosterone levels reduced as she has an “unfair platform”.