The producers of the Canadian Drag Race, the Nordic spin-off of RuPaul’s Drag Race, have announced that actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman will not be returning to the show next season.
In an Instagram ad, fellow judges Brooke Lynn Hytes and Stacey McKenzie announced that Bowyer-Chapman has officially left the show due to scheduling conflicts.
“Unfortunately, our third will not join us this season,” said Hytes. “He’s filming his new show. He’s busy, he’s booked, and he’s paid. Unfortunately, with the planning, things just didn’t work out for him to return this season. He will be missed so much. We love you so much Jeffrey.
Bowyer-Chapman’s exit follows tensions online during the show’s first season, which saw the judge endure racist backlashes from viewers who disparaged Bowyer-Chapman for his criticism. Hytes, McKenzie and several of the contestants have come to his defense, although that doesn’t stop Bowyer-Chapman from deleting his Twitter account.
Related: Drag Race Canada Judge Jeffery Bowyer-Chapman Leaves Twitter For Harassment
Priyanka, the eventual winner of Season 1, also came to Bowyer-Chapman’s defense after her victory. “The fans don’t understand that they had to build trust with the judges,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “This is what happens. They saw these three new judges and was like, ‘Oh, they don’t know what they’re talking about. At this point, they just need to give the judges a chance. Jeffrey is the nicest and has been so invested in our growth and has given us great advice. You want to see shady comments from the judges because that’s what makes great TV! That doesn’t mean he’s a bad judge and a terrible human being and that he should go and kill himself. They need to be nicer to people and stop being so mean!
Bowyer-Chapman’s new project hasn’t been officially announced, but it’s believed to be Doogie Howser’s new reboot for Disney Plus.
