“RuPaul's Drag Race” season 17 queens reveal steamy cast hookup, have mini “Untucked” fight in juicy group interview

RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 hasn't even click-clacked back in the house just yet, and the girls are already hooking up, spilling tea, and (gently) fighting in Entertainment Weekly's exclusive group interview with the new cast of queens.

EW's latest chat with the season 17 queens is one of the wildest (and spiciest) season previews yet, with the ladies making big reveals about on-set tussles, their ambiguous reaction to guest judge Katy Perry, and, uh, who's zooming who in the Werk Room this year.

"All of us just kind of hated each other and loved each other, and battled, fought, and made love," contestant Jewels Sparkles says, after fellow cast member Lucky Starzzz previously revealed in EW's one-on-one interviews that the season got "hot and steamy" this year.

Later, as Hormona Lisa answers a question submitted by season 15's Robin Fierce regarding which of their fellow cast members the queens would like to "kai-kai, marry, or eliminate," the Tennessee-based queen confirms she'd like to give Boston's Kori King (drag sister to season 16's Plane Jane) a little loving — an answer that prompts both Onya Nurve and Lexi Love to get up from their seats in shock while the rest of the cast laugh-screams.

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Confirming the group's suggestion that Kori actually did hook up with a fellow queen this year, Lexi clarifies: "You are reading between the lines now, honey. Tea, baby. Tune in. Tea," and later confirms that the group's reaction was indeed connected to Lucky's prior statement about a sensual season down the line, after Lucky promised that fans might "see some smooching" on season 17.

Things also heat up in a different way throughout the group interview, with Arrietty — who hails from the same drag family as season 15's Irene Dubois and season 14's Bosco — reacts to her sisters unanimously naming her the villain of the season in EW's individual interviews.

"All these girls do want their viral moment so that plays into that, of course," Hormona says when asked about the word "meta" being used to describe the cast's dynamic, as it's comprised mostly of young queens who were reared on aesthetics inspired by the show.

"Now she's trying to get hers," Arrietty replies. "I included myself! I said, 'the girls.' Sit back there, monster," Hormona claps back as her castmates scream, perhaps setting the stage for a preview of what's to come in Untucked this year.

But it doesn't stop there. As the queens pass a microphone back to Arrietty, Hormona pleads, "No, actually, she'll hurt my feelings," then addresses her season 17 sister to say, "You're angelic, you're a sweetheart, you're misunderstood, remember?" To which Arietty replies: "You can retract that, Miss Lady. Go ahead, have fun, Miss Jigglypuff, shut the hell up!"

The moment comes before Onya says there was an issue with cliques this season, which draws an impassioned defense of the clique mentality from New York City's Lana Ja'Rae (daughter to season 15 finalist Luxx Noir London).

Acacia Forgot, a folk singer-songwriter, also reacts to past Drag Race winners Bob the Drag Queen and Monét X Change's reaction to her Meet the Queens video, laughing it off as she recalled the alums shading her older music. "I will say, that was my old music, and it's not my favorite," she says, pointing to new releases that she's proud of.

On a lighter note, the queens also reveal some catchphrases to look out for on future episodes, including: "Piggy," ("It's a compliment," Crystal Envy confirms), "Too good!" and "If it's fierce, it's fierce."

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Moving to the runway, after Lydia B Kollins said earlier this year that she expects one of her looks to be censored for profane imagery, she now teases a little bit more of what fans can expect from the potentially history-making look: "If it looks how it looks, I feel like there's no way they can cut around it and make it look presentable," Lydia observes. "Let's just say the competition was stiff, I was a little stiffer."

Finally, Los Angeles' Joella — who previously performed under the name Joella Perry, inspired by the aforementioned "I Kissed a Girl" singer-songwriter of the same last name — gives an ambiguous teaser for the group's reaction to Perry's presence as the premiere-episode guest judge.

"Loved Katy Perry," Kori says, prompting laughter from the group before Joella responded to a question about whether or not Perry recognized her from their past meetings — including at Perry's 2017 Witness album launch party.

"We'll see when we tune in on MTV on Jan. 3," Joella says. "You will see for yourself if she recognizes me or not. Scandalous. Scandalous, honey!"

Related: RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 queens hilariously read winners' best and worst moments: 'I would've been calling for help'

Before some other fun cast-submitted questions from Drag Race alums like season 15's Emmys goblin, Princess Poppy, and season 13 winner Symone, Sam Star — drag daughter to All Stars 4 winner Trinity The Tuck — and Suzie Toot offer a hopeful note of optimism for queer people who might look to RuPaul's Drag Race as a guiding light in trying political times as Donald Trump prepares to take office again weeks after season 17 debuts.

"Throughout all of history, through dark times and through scary, scary, scary s---, that is when art is most vital and most spread and the most incredible art that exists in the world is because of tragedy, fighting, and survival. Supporting art is more important than ever, making art is more important than ever, art that is real and gritty and f-ggy, that is the whole point," Suzie stresses, while Sam concludes: "Growing up in the conservative south in Alabama, drag was such escapism for me, and I'm hoping that the show airing at this time can be escapism for everyone. We're all in this together and we'll make it through. Stay strong!"

RuPaul's Drag Race season 17 premieres Friday at 8 p.m. on MTV. Watch EW's exclusive interview with the new cast of queens at the top of this post.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly