Feb 15, 2021 at 8:51 pm

Tamron Hall Faces Backlash for Giving Sherry Pie a Platform with Upcoming Interview

Tamron Hall is facing backlash for an upcoming interview with disgraced drag queen Sherry Pie, who was disqualified from RuPaul’s Drag Race last year.

Sherry Pie, whose real name is Joey Gugliemelli, was accused of catfishing by many men. Gugliemelli allegedly posed as a casting director to have actors send him videos of themselves performing sexual acts as audition tapes. He later released an apology, seemingly admitting to the abuse.

Now, Tamron will be interviewing Sherry Pie on the Tuesday (February 16) episode of her talk show.

TUESDAY on “Tamron Hall,” one of the breakout stars of “RuPaul's Drag Race” @sherrypienyc booted from the show after being hit with lewd accusations of catfishing men. For the first time Sherry Pie comes clean. Don’t miss it. pic.twitter.com/6OlCViyoSt

— Tamron Hall Show (@TamronHallShow) February 15, 2021

Tamron says in a promo, “On the next Tamron Hall, one of the breakout stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sherry Pie, booted from the show after being hit with lewd accusations of catfishing men. For the first time Sherry Pie comes clean. What really happened, next Tamron Hall.”

The talk show host is being slammed on Twitter for giving Sherry Pie a platform and for the language used in the promo, which diminishes the victims.

Click inside to read what people are saying in response to Tamron Hall…

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jackie Cox, who was on Sherry Pie‘s season, tweeeted the below statements.

I am publicly calling on @TamronHallShow to reconsider giving Sherry Pie access to the platform of national television to tell their side of the story without first speaking with the victims of her abuses and allowing them to weigh in on their own trauma. (1/4)

— Jackie Cox (@JackieCoxNYC) February 15, 2021

Through personal conversations I have had with these victims, it is clear that the abuses Sherry perpetrated go far beyond what is commonly referred to as “cat fishing”.

Please be warned that the tweet following this one may be a trigger. (2/4)

— Jackie Cox (@JackieCoxNYC) February 15, 2021

TW

Sherry manipulated these men into filming live sexual acts, putting their bodies in physical danger by coercing them to use steroids, and financially controlled them by encouraging these men to turn down paying jobs in lieu of the fake film project that Sherry created. (3/4)

— Jackie Cox (@JackieCoxNYC) February 15, 2021

Being a performer and public persona is not a right, it is a privilege. Sherry relinquished this privilege by their actions. Giving Sherry a spotlight without the forethought to reach out to victims is irresponsible, immoral, & wrong. I stand with the victims of Sherry’s actions.

— Jackie Cox (@JackieCoxNYC) February 15, 2021

Read what more people are saying below.

Just so we are all clear on this, I spoke with producers at @TamronHallShow and told them that I and the 20 victims that I spoke to today DO NOT want them to air a segment with Sherry Pie. They're going to air it despite the all of our requests.

— Ben Shimkus (@BenShimkus) February 15, 2021

I’m the reporter who first wrote about Sherry Pie. There are things here that suggest a worrying lack of research (accusations? she admitted the behaviour) but the biggest is one victim has already contacted me in distress as it appears there’s been no effort to hear from them. https://t.co/cZbtzmY0Gv

— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 15, 2021

Absolutely not. How dare you.

— Kevin Maisto (@kevinmaisto) February 15, 2021

I want to hear what she has to say, but let's be fair to the victims here. These aren't baseless "accusations". Sherry Pie admitted to it right away. Don't advertise this like they're lying or something.

— James (@GarionOrb) February 15, 2021

She literally admitted to everything. What show gives a sexual predator a platform after they admit to what theyve done. Vile

— Oliver (@Oliverpoliver04) February 15, 2021

Shame on you for giving him a platform.

— ella dawson (@brosandprose) February 16, 2021

I didn't think Tamron to be this kind of "journalist." I really did have respect for her. This is tasteless, dangerous, shock-jockery to air this segment in the face of 20 of sherry pie's victims asking you not to. Guess this show is just on par with Dr. Phil or Maury. Bummer.

— bananasfoster (@BananasFoster69) February 15, 2021

Yeah I'm gonna pass and go with "sexual predators don't deserve a platform."

— Josh (@joshisgonenow) February 15, 2021

I keep watching this promo thinking about how I’d feel if the guy who sexually assaulted me was given a platform to try and redeem himself and honestly… Tamron and anyone else involved is so very, very wrong for this. Y’all should be ashamed.

— zacнary✨ (@zachias_) February 16, 2021

Something feels so off about this. When something like this happens, where the predator admitted to doing the acts and there is enough proof to fill out a school yearbook, the victims has to be heard. Not having them heard will hurt them more.

— Andy Romero (@gundhamgarnet) February 15, 2021

OH MY GOD DONT AIR THIS FOR FUCKS SAKE GET 🍒 🥧 OFF MY TV

— natalie 💚🌹 (@nlough_47) February 15, 2021

The fact that she described Sherry as “One of the breakout stars” is absolutely disgusting and openly mocking everything that happened

— 𝖏𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖓 (@MyselfIsMyTruth) February 16, 2021