RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 took a shocking turn in Episode 4 when queen Briar Blush dramatically collapsed on the main stage during the judges’ critiques — a moment that later led to a hospital stay and a sepsis diagnosis.
The 24-year-old performer fainted just moments after receiving a harsh critique from judge Law Roach, falling into the arms of fellow queen Juicy Love Dion. The judges, including RuPaul and Michelle Visage, quickly called for medics as other contestants rushed to her side.
“I blinked and thought Juicy Love Dion was just looking at me sideways. I didn’t realise I was on the ground,” Briar told Entertainment Weekly.
“I looked around and saw queens on stools and Ru screaming for medics. I didn’t realise I’d fainted.”
From Drag Stage to Hospital Bed
Initially, Briar didn’t realise the severity of the moment. But after leaving the competition, she sought medical advice and was told she had walking pneumonia, which later developed into sepsis — a potentially life-threatening condition.
“I was told I had walking pneumonia for weeks, which later turned into sepsis,” she revealed.
“The pneumonia happened during the show, sepsis happened after the show. I got very sick after filming.”
Briar said doctors originally treated her for the wrong type of pneumonia, and her condition worsened over time. It wasn’t until fellow queen Athena urged her to seek further medical care that she returned to the doctor and was admitted to hospital.
“It became more dire. I was in the hospital with sepsis. It was a two-to-three-day stay.”
Drama in the Werkroom
Not all queens on the main stage were convinced the collapse was genuine. In a confessional, Vita VonTesse Starr suggested the timing of Briar’s fainting spell was “convenient” given the critique, while Myki Meeks defended her, saying there was “no way” she was faking it.
Briar, unaware of the speculation at the time, said she was confused, scared, and simply exhausted.
“I was stressed and scared. I remember thinking, ‘What the f**k is going on?’ I was confused, dazed, and so tired.”
She also joked about the lack of glamour in the moment, comparing it to Drag Race Down Under queen Ivory Glaze’s more graceful exit:
“Ivory was beautifully carried down. I fell like a sack of potatoes!”
Elimination and Goodbye
Briar eventually returned to the runway for a lip sync battle against Kenya Pleaser, but was eliminated by RuPaul shortly after.
Packing up in the werkroom, Briar delivered a parting shot:
“Some very gorgeous outfits were missed, Ru. All I want to say is, huge mistake.”
Despite her early exit, Briar’s time on Drag Race has already made a lasting impression — from her fashion to her resilience, both on and off the stage.
