On January 23rd, drag performers Trixie Mattel and Congressman George Santos got into a spat on Twitter. The embattled congressman had tweeted disapprovingly about the impressions actors were doing of him on late-night TV, calling them “TERRIBLE” (they were). Ms. Mattel, real name Brian Firkus, controversial (if beloved) winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 3, entered the chat, replying, “maybe the source material was weak.” 

Santos shot back: “Clearly you know all about weak acting skills,” with a gif of Mattel’s disastrous impression of RuPaul during an “All Stars” challenge, which nearly got her booted from the show. 

Mattel responded: “I am not an actor! I was young, and I had fun at a festival!” This was a dig against Santos’ denial/ admission that he performed as a drag queen named Kitara Ravache in Brazil. He wouldn’t challenge the accuracy of the recently emerged photos, instead telling reporters at LaGuardia, “No, I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys. I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.’”