Build-a-Bear Workshop’s new RuPaul drag queen bear has divided customers who claim the store is ‘grooming’ children. The glamorous bear comes with a curly blonde wig, gold sequin dress, and gold pumps and includes the ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ logo on the bear’s paw. ‘Start your engines—RuPaul Bear is ready to sashay into your collection,’ the item’s description on ‘The Bear Cave’ website — an 18+ section of the Build-a-Bear site.
According to the Daily Mail, The stuffed animal immediately caused outrage online with many calling out the business for selling the bear amid growing controversy regarding drag performances and children around the U.S.
‘Remember: there’s absolutely no agenda to groom your kids. Don’t be ridiculous. On an unrelated note, @buildabear is selling a drag queen stuffed bear for children,’ wrote notable conservative Matt Walsh.
Controversy first erupted online with Walsh’s tweet, which included a screengrab of the Build-a-Bear website with the RuPaul bear advertised. The drag queen bear is stated as being included in ‘The Bear Cave’ but still shown on the general website which is accessible to all.
‘I’m told that the bear is sold in a section of the site that’s “intended for 18+ shoppers.” Except that they have the drag bear right on the front page, front and center, alongside the Easter merchandise,’ Walsh wrote to his 1.5 million followers.
‘”Cover BEAR! Put the fur in your walk. Head to paw, let your whole body talk,”‘ the website reads. ‘Two iconic pop culture institutions join forces for this one-of-a-kind collector’s item made in tribute to the world’s most famous drag queen,’ it continues.
‘Category is teddy bear realness with RuPaul Bear’s signature wig and gold sequin dress included,’ the description reads. As of Monday morning, it appears the 18+ bear has been removed from the main website’s carousel of revolving bears and pages.
The damage had already been done for many, however, as the tweet gained traction on the social media app, amassing more than 500,000 views in days.
Many agreed with Walsh’s outrage and said they find it ‘disturbing’ for a drag queen bear to be advertised so openly to children. ‘Is nothing sacred??’ asked one Twitter user. ‘Another company to avoid buying from. This is disgusting. Shame on your groomers,’ wrote one angry person.
‘Dear @buildabear, Y’all are groomers. Signed, concerned parents,’ one person wrote in a quote of Walsh’s original tweet. Others online pointed out Build-a-Bear Workshop having an 18+ website in general is curious and questionable.
‘It’s also concerning that there’s a marketplace for “+18 shoppers” at Build-a-Bear,’ wrote one woman in a response to Walsh’s tweet. ‘The real question is why is there even an “18+ shoppers” section at a teddy bear store??’ another responded.
