People are calling Kori King the ‘new RuPaul’ after clip with streamer IShowSpeed goes viral
Kori King (L) was the star of IShowSpeed’s stream. (Chelsea Guglielmino/John Nacion/Getty)
Kori King (L) was the star of IShowSpeed's stream. (Chelsea Guglielmino/John Nacion/Getty)
RuPaul’s Drag Race star Kori King has gone viral in a clip where she puts popular streamer IShowSpeed in his place during his visit to a drag cabaret event.
The 20-year-old streamer, who goes by Speed (real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) met Kori King, the “Black Barbie of Boston,” outside Jacques’ Cabaret, leading to a viral interaction between the pair.
Kori King is being praised for how she handled the situation, to the extent she’s now being labelled the new RuPaul. Stay tuned for Kori King’s Drag Race, premiering 2045.
Speed is one of the most prolific YouTube streamers. Rolling Stone crowned him the ‘Most Influential Creator of 2025’, referring to him as a “global phenomenon.”
He is currently on a 35-day trip across the US, streaming continuously throughout his tour of 25 states.
While in Boston, Massachusetts, he met King. When Speed approached the door of Jacques’ Cabaret, King stops him and says: “This is MY show. Hold on!”
King competed on the 17th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She finished ninth but became a fan favourite and quickly grew a dedicated online following.
King, dressed in a bright pink glittering dress and boots, reminds Speed: “This is my domain. It is my show. I’m just letting you know if you’re ready for the show.”
“I’m ready for the show,” Speed insists, seemingly unaware it’s a drag cabaret show.
King then opens the door for Speed, but steps in front of him and leads him into the venue. It seems Speed wasn’t entirely sure about what he was walking into.
Speed hesitates at the door, and King teases him: “Don’t be shy now.” Speed then made a quick exit, saying he needed to go to a different location.
However, Speed later returned to watch the Jacques Cabaret and although the streamer tried to heckle, King was quick to shut him down.
Speed energetically proclaimed he thought “cabaret” was a French dish. “It’s called Jacques’ Cabaret… it’s an establishment,” King schooled him.
The interaction of two opposite sides of the internet has gone viral and the reaction is hilarious.
King even commented on a clip of the stream, writing: “This is so unserious LMFAOOOOOOOO.”
On Reddit, King’s fans commented praise for how King handled the interaction. “Kori is the perfect drag queen for streaming culture to learn about,” one commenter wrote.
“Kori’s drag persona is so larger than life that it truly has the ability to connect different communities.”
They also added: “Kori truly may just be this new generation’s RuPaul. I used to love watching RuPaul randomly show up on a show or in a live interview, or talking to random people at the mall.
“Kori gives that same vibe. Very approachable, funny, and lovable. That kind of personality bridges the gap.”
Another noted: “Wasting Kori’s time like that omg plssss they better have paid our girl GOOD.”
