Drag Race UK slammed for ‘body shaming’ over Pit Crew casting ad

A recruitment ad for the Drag Race UK Pit Crew is attracting criticism for only accepting men who are “over 6ft, have no tattoos, and have an athletic and toned physique.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race is set to launch a long-awaited UK spin-off on BBC Three in 2019, with filming expected to gear up shortly for the drag reality series.

Drag Race UK Pit Crew casting ad: All men must have ‘athletic and toned physique’

Attempts to recreate the US show’s ‘Pit Crew’ of scantily-clad male models have attracted criticism for excluding all applicants who don’t have the perfect body.

A casting call, posted on the Talent Talks website on behalf of the BBC production, sought men who want to be involved in the show.

The Pit Crew on RuPaul’s Drag Race

The ad states: “Talent Talks are exclusively working on a BBC Entertainment Show and looking for fit and attractive males aged 18-35 to take part in the show.

“You will be used as models for different parts of the show and must be confident in just your underwear.

“All applicants must be over 6ft have no tattoos and have an athletic and toned physique.”

The exclusion of shorter men without an “athletic and toned physique” has provoked controversy among Drag Race fans on Reddit.

Many noted the contrast between the blunt casting call and the show’s body-positive message for drag queens.

Drag Race UK ‘should have plus-sized pit crew’, say fans

One fan wrote: “Drag Race proving again that they support body positivity only in theory”