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James William Ross, Former Drag Star, Reportedly Arrested

Tyra Sanchez, Season 2

The performer had recently distanced himself from his drag persona and RuPaul's Drag Race.

MikelleStreet

According to reports James William Ross IV was arrested Thursday in Atlanta. Ross is known to many as a drag performer, a persona that he has recently distanced himself from.

The Atlanta Police Department responded to a vandalism call at around 10:30 a.m. according to a TMZ report. The call was in regards to the words "Don't Move Here Ever" that were spraypainted on the side of a building. A witness reportedly saw Ross commit the act. Police then found and arrested Ross and booked him at Fulton County Jail. Ross has been charged with one count of criminal damage to property in the second degree.

TMZ claims that Ross has not paid rent in months. As we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has closed down various industries and seen massive unemployment, this could possibly make Ross one in a legion of people who are not able to pay rent.

In March, Ross retired from drag and in June, he asked to be disassociated with RuPaul's Drag Race, the show that brought him to national prominence. On the show, in addition to introducing the world to his performance ability, he spoke about being a father, which remains an important aspect of his life.

"I want absolutely nothing to do with your toxic community," Ross wrote on Twitter at the time. "Stop tagging me in your posts, stop including me with your winners. Just forget me."

After distancing himself, Ross began to share theories on why RuPaul left social media. He reached out to Out to share posts of RuPaul wearing looks that incorporated the confederate flag -- one from the set of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar -- and another where Ru had darkened his skin and made himself into a minstrel figure.

RELATED | 'Drag Race's Season 2 Winner Wants You to Forget Them

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.