“RuPaul's Drag Race” star Lala Ri opens up about quitting drag: 'I was doing drag for everybody else' (exclusive)

Lala exclusively tells EW he went "through a depression" over his drag identity on "All Stars" — but assures that The Lala Ri Experience will continue in a different way.

The Lala Ri Experience is here to stay — even if the musician, entertainer, and former drag queen behind the curtain is quitting the art form that helped launch it to international fame.

RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 and All Stars 8 contestant Lala Ri exclusively reveals to Entertainment Weekly that he — yes, Lala's correct pronouns are he/him, by the way — is done with performing as a drag queen. Outside of a few upcoming gigs that were previously booked, Lala is hanging up the wig that made him a global star in the queer community on two seasons of Drag Race — including taking the Miss Congeniality title and becoming Queen of the Fame Games on his all-star run.

Now, with his drag accomplishments behind him, Lala that he no longer feels attached to the glamour and corsetry of the Main Stage, and that he's very much looking forward to re-establishing himself in a new spotlight as he hopes to carve out a new path for himself as a singer, performer, and fashion-forward entertainer.

Related: Drag Race winner Sasha Colby spoke to Auli'i Cravalho about live-action Moana: 'Would be a dream' to join

Read on for EW's full interview with Lala on his decision to quit drag, his time on All Stars 8 that led to him going "through a depression" over his identity, and what's next for him as The Lala Ri Experience charts its journey to new territory.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I noticed something was up when you began posting photoshoots of yourself out of drag. Then, on Instagram, you slipped in a caption that said, “I may be leaving the drag behind, but trust me, The LaLa Ri Experience is still very much alive and serving!” So, the bag look finally got to you enough that you’re quitting drag?

LALA RI: I can’t take it anymore, solely due to the bag look. Thanks, bag look. You've won!

In all seriousness, you’re fully quitting drag?

Yes. How can I put this? I’m removing myself from the drag character. I’m basically removing the drag essence. I feel like drag places us in a box as artists and entertainers, and sometimes in drag you’re limited to what you can do artistically. I’d like to be considered a queer artist more than just a drag queen. I still plan to entertain, still do music, still do all the things I did when I was in drag — just without the drag.

You’re still performing as an artist, but quitting drag in the way most fans are familiar with the art form?

Yes, correct.

What inspired this choice?

It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a few years. I never intended to have a full-fledged drag career. I was pushed into doing drag. I never wanted to do drag for myself. I was already in the entertainment industry as a dancer and choreographer. I was doing music before drag. Drag was just a different outlet for me to perform. It blew up, I got on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and it took off from there. It was like, I guess I’ve got to stick with this for a while. Even doing All Stars, I wanted to be there, obviously, because the opportunity and platform is amazing, but I didn’t want to be there doing drag. I was going through a depression stage at that time about doing drag. That’s how deep it was for me. I wanted to be on TV entertaining, and I loved the moments I was out of drag, but the moments I was in drag, I was over it, completely. I didn’t show it. It’s been going on for years. Now that I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to drag wise, if there’s no passion there, and if there’s no love for it, why continue to do something I don’t want to do for myself? I feel like I was doing drag for everybody else; I wasn’t doing drag for me.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

It takes so much confidence to stand in what’s right for you versus something people expect. Can you elaborate more on what you said about joining All Stars and the depression this led to?

It was more of an internal thing. I felt like I was getting lost behind the drag. Everyone was so focused on the outrageous comedy aspect of it, but I take art very seriously. Sometimes I feel like people don’t take drag queens seriously as artists because it’s dress-up for them. Before Drag Race, I was already an artist in the industry. Going into something where I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously as an artist, it took a toll on me and led to a depression.

How do you want people to view you now, as an artist?

I want them to still see that I’m an entertainer, more so focused on my music. I never really pushed my music because I didn’t want to be considered a “drag queen” music artist. Once I remove the drag, I want people to focus on my music and I want to make the music I want to make. I feel like I was making music to satisfy the drag community. Now I’m making music that will satisfy more than just the drag community and talk about things I want to talk about as an artist. I’m getting into acting, I can’t talk much about it, but I did get a chance to film something out of drag, which I’m excited about, and more fashion stuff. As you can see, I’ve been posting on social media. I enjoy my boy vibe way more than my drag closet.

Does this mean Shari Coleman is dead?

I would pull her out, because I like her. She’s the only one. I do enjoy her, okay? [Laughs]

I also want to clarify: Instagram now says pronouns are “he/him,” so everyone should refer to you by those pronouns, correct?

Yes, he/him. I never had an issue with people calling me he/him in drag. I actually had an issue with people calling me she/her. Drag was just a work uniform and a costume, I didn’t want it to define me as a gender identity. Being called she/her was an issue — obviously, I didn’t say anything, but he/him are my pronouns.

Related: Alyssa Edwards looks back, back, back again on her best RuPaul's Drag Race moments, from orange Coco to gagging Phi Phi

Are you still going to use Lala Ri as a stage name?

I want to keep my name. The Lala Ri Experience is still here. It’s going to be better, now! I still do have drag shows that I have to complete coming up.

You also have many new photos on Instagram. Have you seen the thirsty comments on those? How do you feel about that?

It’s insane! I feel like a piece of meat. No, I’m shy, I'm in a relationship, so I’m like, how does he feel when he sees the comments? It’s cute. I like it. Shout-out to the fans. [Laughs]

Now that you’ve left drag, is there tea from All Stars 8 you’d like to reveal?

Drag might be left behind, but that NDA is still here. That’s the real tea. I feel like during All Stars, I talked about all the good tea I can remember. Time moves so fast. Nothing has been left out about All Stars 8.

What if Drag Race calls for Global All Stars or Vs. the World?

It’s so funny you say that. Last week, I got a phone call and I turned it down. It was for quite a few things. I’m leaving it behind. I feel like it’s pointless for me to do the show if I wasn’t going to enjoy doing the drag portion. I didn’t want to turn it down, because I love being on TV and entertaining, but doing something in drag, being a character I didn’t want to be, is the reason I didn’t. I [obviously] enjoy the show, it’s super fun to be on. If they called me back and said I didn’t have to be in drag or to be the confessional person throughout the season, yes, sign me up.

The first-ever narrator-only, non-contestant. I’d watch the s--- out of that season.

Exactly. If I could just narrate the entire season, sign me up, honey. We’re going to put that into the atmosphere. Drag Race, I’m available to narrate! I’m available for hire! I’d also go back as a guest judge, because they’re bringing back some of the queens for the overseas seasons as guest judges. I’d love to judge — out of drag.

Speaking of the future, many in the drag and trans community are fearful at the moment of the incoming administration. What does the future of the industry look like to you?

I try not to live in fear, because the LGBTQ+ community has been up against a lot, way before my time. We’ve always come out on top. As long as we stick together, the future will be bright. Of course there’s a fight ahead. It will definitely be a fight — a big fight. But, if we stick together, we’ll push through to the end. We’ve always pushed through, from the beginning. Life is going to be great for us if we stick together. We’ve got to put on our boxing gloves, honey. Drag queens, put on your highest heels, just in case you’ve got to step on a bitch along the way.