Brighton-based 'RuPaul’s Drag Race UK' season 7 star Tayris Mongardi assaulted by far-right group ahead of series premiere

Tayris Mongardi, one of the standout queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 7, has revealed she was physically assaulted in a racially aggravated attack by members of a far-right, Islamophobic group just days before the show’s premiere.

Speaking candidly during a press interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act, Mongardi recounted the harrowing experience, which occurred during an English Defence League (EDL) protest. “Last weekend, to be totally transparent, I was physically assaulted in a racial aggravation [attack] during an EDL protest here,” she said. The EDL, though widely believed to be defunct, continues to have active members who have been linked to violent and discriminatory behaviour. 

The Brighton-based performer described the incident as deeply unsettling, stating, “It really shook me.” However, she also expressed how the experience has reignited her political awareness and commitment to advocacy. “Coming back from Drag Race UK has reignited not only my sense of political drive and awareness, but I have to remember what I’m doing and what I’m fighting for,” she said.

Mongardi, who uses she/her pronouns in drag, emphasised the importance of using her platform to uplift marginalised communities, especially trans individuals. “I have to go above and beyond to fight even harder for my trans+ brothers, sisters, and siblings,” she added.

She also reflected on the inherently political nature of drag, saying, “Drag gives us a power and a platform… I’m going to entertain and be a superstar, but more importantly, I’m going to uplift the people who need it and be the person I needed to see when I was younger.”

Known as the “Titan of Brighton”, Mongardi brings a vibrant celebration of Black queer joy to the stage, drawing inspiration from icons like Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, and Grace Jones. Her drag name fuses “Taystee” from Orange is the New Black and “Iris” from Pokémon. With a background spanning adverts, podcasts, ballroom, and pageantry, she’s a seasoned entertainer determined to break the so-called “Brighton curse” on Drag Race.