Drag Race icons Violet Chachki and Gottmik 'both got punched' for real in new pre-tour video: 'Te...

&34;I definitely got punched in the face,&34; Gottmik tells EW with a laugh, while Violet adds, &34;We did everything and were stressed out&34; before their Kno

"I definitely got punched in the face," Gottmik tells EW with a laugh, while Violet adds, "We did everything and were stressed out" before their Knockout tour.

Drag Race icons Violet Chachki and Gottmik 'both got punched' for real in new pre-tour video: 'Tensions were high' (exclusive)

"I definitely got punched in the face," Gottmik tells EW with a laugh, while Violet adds, "We did everything and were stressed out" before their Knockout tour.

's Oscars expert, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' beat reporter, host of 'Quick Drag' Twitter Spaces, and cohost of 'EW's BINGE' podcast. Almost all of the drag content on this site is my fault (you're welcome).

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Published on August 14, 2025 12:43PM EDT

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Violet Chachki and Gottmik in 'TKO' music video. Credit:

Nogorge/Youtube

- Violet Chachki and Gottmik exclusively tell EW they "both got punched" in the face in their new "TKO" video.

- Gottmik reflects on transphobic haters *still* criticizing that groundbreaking top surgery runway look from *All Stars 9*.

- The* No Gorge* hosts and *Drag Race *queens react to Naysha Lopez's response to their Roscoe's comments.

The *real* gagatrondra of the season? That would absolutely be when *RuPaul's Drag Race* icons and* No Gorge* podcast cohosts Violet Chachki and Gottmik punched each other — for real — on the set of their new "TKO" music video.

It's a fitting set-up for their upcoming Knockout tour, a boxing-themed extravaganza that sees the drag superstars mounting their first joint theater tour in massive venues around the country.

Now, ahead of the tour that kicks off Friday, Sept. 12, the duo exclusively previews what fans can expect from them on the road (a cage match, perhaps?), their response to fellow RuGirl Naysha Lopez's comments about them on stage at Roscoe's, why drag entertainers need a union, and who they'd like to face off against in another "TKO" match of their own against other past* Drag Race *contestants.

**: Your new "TKO" video sees you fighting each other. RuPaul famously accidentally slapped Asia O'Hara on season 10. Did you suffer injuries while filming?**

**VIOLET CHACHKI:** It was 110 degrees, so tensions were high. We produced, cast, set-dressed, did all the hair, designed the costumes, makeup — we did everything and were stressed out.

**GOTTMIK:** The stunts weren't coordinated. We were just fighting, and tensions were high. I definitely got punched in the face.

**VIOLET:** We *both* got punched in the face. I think some of us were more down to get hit!

**GOTTMIK:** When my eyebrow glue got punched off, I was like, time out!

**VIOLET:** Doing these projects isn't cheap. People think we're super rich, and we look super rich because we spend a lot of money on our stuff. Good drag ain't cheap, and cheap drag ain't good. I live by that. I'm not going to do a boxing video without authentic-looking shots. And Mik's eyebrow got affected.

**Was anyone bruised?**

**VIOLET:** Egos were bruised. After I did the eyebrow punch, cameras stopped, and Mik decided to hit me with a quick one…. On purpose, in front of the whole cast and crew.**

**In EW's season 17 group interview, Joella said she thinks she can beat DeJa Skye in a fight. Who would win?**

**GOTTMIK:** I'd put my bet on Joella because DeJa has one too many s--- talking videos on me. So, I'm team Joella. [*Laughs*] But, honestly, a fair fight.

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**Which RuGirl do you think you could win against?**

**VIOLET:** Because she has the gall and the nerve, and because I'd love to work with her in any capacity: Tammie Brown. Imagining Tammie like, "Put 'em up, fool!" The things she'd say and how she'd move? There's an amazing video of her doing the Six Flags Vengaboys song. I think she could fight like that, doing that little dance.

**This tour marks new territory for you in these venues, right?**

**VIOLET:** It's our first theater tour together. It's the biggest production we've done. We've done club tours, but that's more like, show up with your two drag numbers and hit it. This tour is about the level of drag we think drag deserves to be at, and presenting it as a theatrical show and not a club thing while people are getting f---ed up. This is an elevated theatrical experience.

**GOTTMIK:** This is my first-ever full theater show moment. I've only done ensemble theater shows. Every number here is what we want, and the story we want to tell. It's been challenging and crazy.

**VIOLET:** We're sharing the headliner title. I'm not a group challenge person. If you remember from season 7, 11 years ago, I don't work well with others. I'm used to solo stuff. There's a bunch of compromise, and that's why the theme of boxing and fighting works well, because we're strong creatives with strong viewpoints. It can be difficult at times.

'Drag Race' icons Violet Chachki and Gottmik fight in 'TKO' music video.

Nogorge/Youtube

**Gottmik, people have resurfaced your surgery look from *All Stars 9* to criticize trans people under Donald Trump's administration. How does it feel to see this look brought up again, in this context?**

**GOTTMIK:** It makes me proud of it. As a trans artist, especially a trans male artist, I don't think there's enough conversation around it. I spoke through visual art. I see how it's jarring to people. Art is meant to make you feel something. The fact that, a year later, it's still on the tip of these haters' tongues to prove whatever point they have? It's nuanced and hilarious that they're using it to call me a man. I'm like, that's the whole point! They don't even know what they're saying. If I have a look now that doesn't get a visceral reaction, I'm like, okay, I guess we're not doing art today. I'm also extremely proud. I shook the fashion world on my favorite TV show. That's what drag is to me, to be able to tell your story and change the world.

**I'm also curious for your response to Naysha's reaction to you saying that queens risked their careers by going to Roscoe's. Did you see her response?**

**VIOLET:** I don't know the exact verbiage, but I know there was a response. I stand behind everything we said. I don't think what we said was that crazy.

**GOTTMIK:** I saw clips on TikTok. I think she took it more personally. I didn't mean anything toward her. Girls should be able to tell their stories on their own platforms instead of others monetizing their stories. It was a PSA to inspire queens to tell their own things.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars Violet Chachki, Gottmik talk new tour.

Nogorge/Youtube

**VIOLET:** We've done that gig. You can watch it. It was uncomfortable for me, personally. A lot of the questions I was put on the spot for on stage were very uncomfortable. I didn't like it, and that's my personal experience. I think Naysha stuck up for us when we were there. There were some inappropriate questions being asked.

**GOTTMIK:** She's a good host. I was like, thank God she's here helping me. It was an intense environment. I love going there, I love that bar. It was more about, you should be able to monetize your story as an artist in this industry.

**VIOLET:** There've been so many people who've profited off drag queens, but don't do drag. Agents, managers, scammers, promoters still owe me money. A couple owe probably $1 million at this point. That experience isn't exclusive. There's no union or guidebook. When you get off *Drag Race,* you're susceptible to people taking advantage.... I wish there was a union for us.

**I don't understand why there isn't.**

**VIOLET**: Because there's always a busted queen who will do it cheaper.

**GOTTMIK:** That's every industry. When I was a makeup artist, you had to play the game carefully, because there's a hungrier person who'll do it for free.

'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars Violet Chachki and Gottmik talk 'Knockout' tour.

Nogorge/Youtube

**What's next?**

**GOTTMIK:** With the tour, so much we've been working on is also coming to fruition. We're performing our music, we just released "TKO." I'm releasing a couple of songs before the tour that I've been working on for three years.

**VIOLET:** All of my drag-related dreams have come true. I have a couple more music projects. I want to have a fashion project in the works. I'm dabbling in interior design stuff. We're working on dolls. I'm also writing a book. I can't tell you too much [about the book] but I'm excited to be doing it…. I'm excited to get back on a theater stage. At this point, I'm only interested in doing drag in this environment, in this theatrical way. I hope everyone comes! Right now, we could use a little 90-minute break for our brains, from the turmoil and trauma going on. I want to provide a safe space for queer people to have escapism and look at fantastical things. I'm honored to provide that.**

*This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity*

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