Queer celebrities dish on their gay awakenings at the 2025 VMAs

PRIDE: First things first, I want to congratulate you on the show, because I got to see the premiere episode, and it is so fun and sexy — and I think it offers us a chance to get to know the performers in a fun and cheeky way with the Q&A portion of the show. Do you hope that, in addition to titillating, these moments help contribute to destigmatization around sex work?

Willam Belli: I’m glad that you mentioned it, because nobody usually hires strippers for their oratory skills. So getting to talk to them and figure out, you know, what’s the best underwear for stripping? Or how did you get into it? Or what’s your favorite song? Tips that could help other strippers succeed in that industry — or just give people an insight into things like, ‘oh, okay, this is where I should put the dollar so they don’t get a paper cut on the urethra,’ it’s informative but fun.’

I think that these strippers who are on this first season are going to be the legacy kids, and they were the OGs, the first ones. We’re going to keep doing this and keep finding more strippers and getting more strippers work, because nobody has ever said. ‘You know what? I want to see less attractive people taking clothes off around me.’ Nobody, nobody. Even the Vatican was a brothel at one point in the 1200s. Those popes were crazy.

Now, see, that’s the reality show we need. We need to get inside the Vatican, and I need you to host it. Are you down to travel?

I’m down to host, too! I’m going to Como this summer, so I’ll check it out. I’ll learn some Italian, I’ll start chain-smoking, and grab a Vespa.

This show is so unapologetically queer, and I love seeing that, especially right now in the time of Trump and MAGA, but how is that for you to be the face of a show this queer and transgressive right now?

I took my role as the host of Willam’s Dark Room Duel very seriously, because A, my name is in the title, and B, at this point in time, in the UK and the US and everywhere, it’s so important to be visible, and that’s why I made sure I wore really fucking big hair.

We’re trying to make people have a good time while they watch TV. And I think [when we’re] having a good time while it’s happening really translates onto the screen. Because this is a fun show. We were laughing the whole time on set. It’s very sex positive because there’s nothing wrong with sex.

I really love that this show sticks its thumb in the eye of respectability politics.

I think there’s a time and a place for appropriateness, [but] I’m worried that people say that drag queens or trans people are the problem — it’s very Jaida Essence Hall, ‘look over there,’ because the people that are saying that are also trying to gerrymander the state of Texas so that Trump can be a dictator.

I’m confused about what their endgame is, other than total annihilation? For me, it’s like Handmaid’s Tale: The Prequel, and I look horrible in red. I don’t know what’s going on, but I will be loud. I will be vocal. I will show up at the protest, and I will try to put up Ws for our community instead of Ls.

So let’s talk about your amazing panel of judges, Meatball, Rhyheim, Yony, and Mama Mamba, who surprised you most with their critiques?

Rhyheim. He is one of those people that everybody thinks they know because they watch him in his erotic adventures on the internet. He gave out really sage advice to people. It was so wonderful working with him. I’ve been a fan of his for so long. Mama Mamba has been doing burlesque forever, and so getting to work with her was nice, because she’s also in that world, and she has the wherewithal and the knowledge to talk about how people can be successful as strippers. And then Meatball throws parties where she hires strippers and does a sexy eating contest with strippers. So it’s like there’s also the opportunity for her to find new performers for her clubs.

I know we’re just about to start season one, but I like to manifest. If you could bring on any guest judge for season two, who would it be?

Amanda Lepore. That is a woman who knows how to take her clothes off correctly. She’s not one of those girls who’s like, ‘Oh, I’m a burlesque performer. I’m going to do this for my talent show on Drag Race,’ and then she falls because she can’t even take her clothes off. She doesn’t like me talking about that, because, God forbid, trauma.

I have one last question for you, that’s a little off topic. With Alaska newly engaged, will you be in the wedding?

I met her fiancé years before she did, actually, because he’s a theater producer in LA and we worked together on one of Peaches Christ’s productions when it came down to LA, and he’s a great guy.

I don’t know what her wedding situation is, but I already told her that you call me when there’s a bachelor party, because I know a lot of boys from Willam’s Dark Room Duel that would love to dance for Miss Alaska Thunderfuck. So, I’m handling the bachelor party!

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and length.

Willam’s Dark Room premiere’s September 16 on OUTtv.