“We’re all human/existential fish:” Fans Making Sense of Adore Leaving RuPaul’s Drag Race

ABSTRACT

Our essay explores sensemaking in a subreddit called “r/rupaulsdragrace.” Specifically, we analyzed how fans made sense through online discussions after a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2 (a reality television competition with drag queens) left the show early. Findings revealed that fans made sense of the events through enacting past frameworks, selecting specific messages to explain Adore (a contestant) leaving, and retaining messages over time. The implications of our findings show ways that fans make sense in online discussion boards and how both online platforms and celebrities can reduce the stigma around mental health.

Keywords:

• Fandom
• online fan communities
• Reddit
• Rupaul’s Drag Race
• sensemaking

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Caroline Waldbuesser

Dr. Caroline Waldbuesser is an Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at Sam Houston State University. She received her PhD in communication from Ohio University in 2019. She primarily researches instructional and interpersonal communication but has secondary interests in identity and popular culture.

John Marc Cuellar

Dr. John Marc Cuellar earned his doctorate degree at Ohio University. He leans toward relational communication with an emphasis on parasocial relationships. He additionally researches fandom. He currently works in academia and public education in Texas.