“I’m Not Really A Drag Person”: Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s Awkward Dig while Interviewing Billy Porter on His New Drag Role

So far on CBS Mornings, Hasselbeck has joined Gayle King and Nate Burleson for interviews with stars such as Billy Porter, Sam Worthington, and Oprah Winfrey, and has reported on topics including infidelity among political candidates and warnings about a popular brand of baby bassinets. Her colleagues, meanwhile, handled more serious news stories about the war in Iran and intense weather across the country, among other topics.

via: Queerty

Billy Porter was a guest on CBS Mornings Monday, ostensibly to discuss his latest role in La Cage Aux Folles. The original show was the basis for the hit movie, The Birdcage.

But quickly, the conversation became derailed, thanks to the show’s new guest co-host: Elizabeth Hasselback. From The View and Fox News fame (or infamy), the veteran personality is a well-known conservative.

With Porter in studio, she made her views on drag known. (Spoiler: She DOES NOT like it)…

“Black, queer joy”

Longtime host Gayle King began the interview by telling Porter she was thrilled to see him and Wayne Brady performing together in La Cage Aux Folles, which premiers on June 17.

“It’s all joy. Black, queer joy,” replies a straight-faced Porter. “And we need that right now,” he continues, stabbing his finger for emphasis.

King goes on to say she’s just so happy to see Porter alive and well after his well-documented health challenges. He became critically ill with sepsis and spent several days in hospital last autumn.

Porter admits it was a tough time, and he becomes emotional when he thinks about it. He goes on to describe La Cage Aux Folles as “heartwarming, it’s lovely, it’s loving, and it’s a fabulous show.”

Hasselback jumps in to pick up on an earlier comment Porter made about “not being a sports person”, adding, “I’m not really a drag person, but I’m a person person, so we get to be who we are, and I love that about our world, right?”

Huh? Is she trying to say that because Porter admits to not being a fan of sports, that she’s also free to say she doesn’t like drag… while interviewing Porter about his role as a drag queen?

The awkward comment is at 2:20. Watch below.

Hasselback then moves the conversation along to ask Porter what it’s like to work with Brady. He says he’s long been a fan of his co-star and is in awe of his talent.

More conservative voices on CBS

Porter’s appearance on CBS Mornings generated plenty of interest for the show’s limited run. However, many were also shocked to see Hasselback on CBS Mornings.

“Oh GOD Elisabeth from the view?!?!? WTF,” said one person on YouTube.

CBS Mornings announced last week that Hasselback was joining the show as a guest for three mornings. Some online commentators replied that was another reason to avoid the Tiffany Network.

Last October, Bari Weiss was appointed Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. She took on the role after Paramount Skydance acquired her media startup, The Free Press.

That came about after Paramount merged with Skydance Media, run by David Ellison, a billionaire and ally of President Tr*mp.

Since Weiss, who identifies as LGBTQ+, took over, she has shaken up CBS and gotten rid of several staff members. That includes longtime 60 Minutes correspondents Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega . Other high-profile figures, such as Anderson Cooper and Scott MacFarlane, have quit.

Weiss has made no secret of her desire to see more conservative voices represented on the iconic broadcast network.

Billy Porter and Wayne Brady

Getting back to La Cage Aux Folles, the all-too-limited run of Porter and Brady together looks like it’s going to be magical, judging by rehearsal footage that went online last week.