Defending Our Marriage (w/ Latrice Royale & Christopher Hamblin)

Summary

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Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

Episode: "Defending Our Marriage" (w/ Latrice Royale & Christopher Hamblin)

Release Date: December 12, 2025

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Overview

This heartfelt and hilarious episode features Nicole Byer in conversation with the iconic Drag Race star Latrice Royale and her husband, musical director Christopher Hamblin. The trio dive into the realities, joys, and challenges of their enduring marriage, life as public figures, interracial love, performing, vulnerability, and plenty of drag world anecdotes. Honest exchanges, playful moments, and vulnerable insights make this episode both deeply moving and highly entertaining.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

Navigating an Interracial Marriage in the Spotlight

• Public Scrutiny & Social Media Pressure

  • [00:26] Latrice notes the heavy discussion about their interracial marriage:

    “We're getting a lot of like, discussion about the fact that we're interracial. That's a thing too.”

  • [00:43 / 58:00] Christopher expresses feeling excluded from conversations about his own marriage:

    “There’s an entire conversation about my marriage that I feel like I can’t participate in.”

• Latrice’s Fierce Defense of Her Love

  • [00:56 / 58:14] Latrice pushes back on critics:

    “Mind your business. Number one, I am in love with someone who is in love with me... I’m not gonna miss out on my blessing because he’s white. That sounds stupid. You sound ridiculously stupid. And that’s why you’re single and miserable. Get yourself some self-love and find you somebody who’s gonna love your raggedy broke down ass.”

• Christopher’s Perspective & Agency

  • [61:02] Christopher desires participation, not just scrutiny:

    “If there’s going to be [a conversation] about me, I’d like to be able to speak for myself and feel welcome in that conversation. I really love this guy. And we’re not always perfect… but at the end of the day... I do feel like I’ve been there to support this Black man when no one else was.”

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Meeting & Falling in Love

• Their Origin Story

  • [05:33–10:24] The couple recounts their charming first meeting: Christopher attended Latrice’s drag show in Knoxville, ending up running her meet-and-greet when things got chaotic. Latrice recalls:

    “I was flirting like queens do, and he was keeping up tit for tat… He’s like, bitch, I’m grown too. I was like, oh, okay. So immediately I’m intrigued, you know.”

• The Proposal

  • [11:25–13:32] Christopher secretly buys an engagement ring right after the Pulse nightclub tragedy, leading to an emotional proposal on stage in Seattle. Latrice recalls officiating weddings post-marriage equality and realizing, “I need this in my life.”

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Working, Touring, and Living Together

• Balancing Roles

  • [03:23 / 03:46] Christopher notes the importance of knowing what ‘hat’ he’s wearing:

    “I have to know which hat I’m wearing and who’s speaking. You know, I say I’m married to Tim, but I work for Latrice.”

• Unique Challenges of Public Life

  • [34:03–34:30] Christopher on losing anonymity:

    “Our gay friends just want to, like, go to the bar one night and… they’re inviting Latrice Royale to a meet and greet. That… changes my whole experience. I don’t get to be just a whole normal gay at the club.”

• Dealing with Absence (Drag Race Filming):

  • [26:17–28:29, 32:27–33:16]
    While planning their wedding, Latrice was filming Drag Race All Stars 4 without phone access, leaving Christopher to plan much of the wedding solo. Both discuss the sacrifices and difficulties of being apart.

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Performing, Singing, and Vulnerability

• Encouraging Each Other’s Growth

  • [21:05–23:16] Christopher encouraged Latrice to sing live, helping her conquer discomfort about her deep voice. Latrice shares:

    “But what [Gladys Knight] does do is know how to deliver and tell a story and make… that’s what I can do, and I do well.”

• Powerful Moments on Stage

  • [24:24–26:00] The emotional impact of their work and their wedding, including walking down the aisle to “Through the Fire” sung live, producing their own extravagant celebration.

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Relationship Communication & Emotional Intelligence

• Conflict & Accountability

  • [50:39–51:02] Latrice discusses being “mirrors” for each other and acknowledges the challenge in apologizing and reflecting on behavior:

    “We are definitely mirrors for each other and very much let each other know how we’re coming across…”

• Advice for Single Listeners

  • [57:13 / 59:38]
    Latrice:

    “Just go where love is and be happy… that’s what I chose to do. And yeah, here we are 13 years later, and I ain’t going nowhere. He ain’t going nowhere.”
    Christopher adds the importance of being “fully developed” and handling your own issues before seeking partnership.

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Joyful Anecdotes & Fun Moments

• “Pop the Corn So the Kids Can Eat”

  • [37:07–39:48] The group debates the true origin of the phrase, crediting Jasmine Masters, and presents original Manila Luzon-inspired fan art.

• Drag Race Trivia

  • [40:07–41:36] Nicole’s affection for Season 7’s notorious acting challenges, quoting Jasmine Masters’ “It’s a cocoon!” bit.

• Delta Diamond Status

  • [17:47–19:48] The trio gleefully swaps stories about airline loyalty programs and the odd pride of being thanked (or not!) by airline staff:
    Nicole:

    “I’m a Delta Diamond Diva. Don’t you know it matters?”

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Notable Quotes & Powerful Moments

• On Interracial Relationships:

  • Latrice: “If there was a Black person who showed me the kind of love that this man sat here and showed me, then I would be all about it… I'm not gonna miss out on my blessing because he's white.” [58:14]

• On Partnership:

  • Christopher: “As an objective fan of this individual and the work they put into the world, I still believe that today, like whether we were married or not, that's incredibly sweet. This person matters in the world and it's my privilege to help take care of him.” [14:20]

• On Vulnerability in Performing:

  • Latrice: “I feel like in order to be like a well rounded performer… it has to come from a place. You have to have gone through something, gotten through something… You gonna have to have an experience with me. Like, that's the goal. Or else what am I doing?” [16:23]

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Highlighted Timestamps & Segments

• Interracial relationships and public discourse:
  [00:26]; [57:23]; [58:00]; [61:02]

• Meeting story and flirting:
  [05:33]–[10:24]

• Wedding proposal and preparation:
  [11:25]; [26:16]; [27:28]

• Vulnerability, singing, and performance:
  [21:05]–[23:16]; [24:24]–[26:00]

• Romantic gestures:
  [53:22]–[56:54]

• Delta status anecdotes:
  [17:47]–[19:48]

• Drag Race catchphrase origin debate:
  [37:07]–[39:48]

• Nicole’s favorite Season 7 moments:
  [40:07]–[41:36]

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Tone & Style

Light-hearted, candid, and unapologetically sassy, the conversation is full of joyous drag humor, loving ribbing, and honest admissions about vulnerability, love, and the messiness of relationships. Nicole’s playful style as host shines throughout, while Latrice and Christopher offer warmth, wit, and no-nonsense wisdom.

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Final Thoughts & Advice

Latrice sums up their philosophy:

“Just go where love is and be happy… that’s what I chose to do. And yeah, here we are 13 years later, and I ain’t going nowhere.” [59:38]

Christopher reminds listeners:

“If you can’t deal with your own thing, then you’re not gonna be able to deal with somebody else’s.” [59:38]

The episode underscores that great love is rooted in acceptance, support, deep honesty, and not letting anyone else’s baggage dictate your happiness.

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For tour dates and more, follow Latrice Royale and Christopher Hamblin’s “Why Gotta Be White Christmas” holiday show.

Transcript

[Nicole Byer]

Want to watch this episode? Catch the full video on YouTube. Just hit the link in the episode description.

[Latrice Royale]

This is a headgum podcast.

[Nicole Byer]

Quick, choose a meal deal with McValue. The five dollar McChicken meal deal, the six dollar McDouble meal deal, or the.

[Latrice Royale]

New seven dollar Daily Double meal deal. Each with its own small fries, drink.

[Nicole Byer]

And Four Piece McNuggets. There's actually no rush. I'm just excited for McDonald's for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary not by aldermic delivery.

[Latrice Royale]

We're getting a lot of like, discussion about the fact that we're interracial. That's a thing too.

[Nicole Byer]

Not to interrupt you, but how do you deal with that? How do you deal with people? Cause I feel like on Twitter people really like that there's a whole discussion, like talk about interracial relationships. I guess. Yeah, you really can.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I mean, you're the first. Thank you for actually asking that question and providing a space for me to say that. That there's an entire conversation about my marriage that I feel like I can't participate in.

[Nicole Byer]

Yeah, that is fucked up.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah, it kind of is.

[Latrice Royale]

And visible. Here's what I have to say to them people. Mind your business. Number one, I am in love with someone who is in love with me. I went with love. And if there was a black person who showed me the kind of love that this man sat here and showed me, then I would be all about it. But ain't nobody stepped to the plate. So if you step to the plate, then I'm gonna entertain that. I'm not gonna miss out on my blessing because he's white. That sounds stupid. You sound ridiculously stupid. And that's why you're single and miserable. Get yourself some self love and find you somebody who gonna love your raggedy broke down ass.

[Nicole Byer]

Why won't you date me? Why won't you date me? Why won't you date me? Please tell me why. Ooh, baby. Welcome to another episod episode of why Won't yout Date Me? A podcast where me, Nicole Byer, was trying to figure out why I was so single. Even though you could come on my counter and say, that's just a cookies and cream bar, I got Mars. My guests today are a married couple. One is a Drag Race legend and Miss Congeniality. The other is a musical director and longtime creative collaborator. You can see them together on tour with their holiday show, why Gotta Be White Christmas now until the end of the year. I'm so excited. It's Latrice Royale and my best friend, Christopher Hamblin.

[Latrice Royale]

Yay.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Hi.

[Nicole Byer]

Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That's the best line reading of our title ever. We refuse to change the name of the show. Oh, shit.

[Nicole Byer]

Did I say it?

[Christopher Hamblin]

No, you said it perfectly. People usually try to add a why it gotta be a white Christmas? Or why does it have to be White Christmas?

[Latrice Royale]

Or that right there in itself, when you say, why does it have to be? You already know you're not black.

[Nicole Byer]

Why does it have to be a white Christmas? That's very funny.

[Latrice Royale]

No.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Why it gotta be White Christmas? We don't know. These are the questions.

[Nicole Byer]

I love it. Wait, so you guys tour together, you collaborate together, you live together, you are married together?

[Christopher Hamblin]

We are all those things.

[Nicole Byer]

Is it hard?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Not right now. I mean, I could get it up if you want, but.

[Latrice Royale]

No, no. Like, at times, yeah, of course it's difficult because, you know, you have to balance so many things and so many hats. And whether you're talking to your spouse or your, you know, assistant, you know.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Let'S just say it. Yes. Yes.

[Nicole Byer]

Okay.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I have to know which hat I'm wearing and who's speaking. You know, I say I'm married to Tim, but I work for Latrice, so those are pretty clear concepts for me, anyway.

[Nicole Byer]

That's a good separation to just be, like, two different people.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, he was really clear early on. Like, when we first started dating. Like, I knew it was serious. When he said, I'm gonna need you to not call me girl. I was like, oh, we're not sisters.

[Nicole Byer]

No.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Cause she doesn't Kai.

[Latrice Royale]

Kai at all.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And so girl was just how I talk girl. Like, I mean, the way I would speak to you or one of my girlfriends.

[Latrice Royale]

And I'm your girlfriend.

[Nicole Byer]

Mm.

[Christopher Hamblin]

So that was when we knew, like, oh, we're in trouble.

[Nicole Byer]

I get that. I had to stop calling the nice man in my life girl, because I'd be like, girl, please. And he would just look at me and I'd be like, yes, you're not one of my girls. You're also a straight man. And I don't know why I keep saying girl. Stop.

[Christopher Hamblin]

One of our best straight guy friends. We have to girl and bitch him every now and again, too. Cause he is shadier than any of us. Like, every now and again, the stuff that follows out of his mouth is so gay that there's no response to girl, girl, please. Correct.

[Nicole Byer]

I say it to him all the time. And I just. Sometimes I'll say it and then just blink and go. I know. I'm sorry.

[Latrice Royale]

I mean, at this point, like, he has to know you're bound, bruh.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Cause you bruh people, too.

[Nicole Byer]

No, I don't.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, you don't? Bruh, bruh.

[Nicole Byer]

It just doesn't sound natural coming out of my mouth, bruh.

[Latrice Royale]

No, it doesn't.

[Nicole Byer]

Hey, bruh. Hey, dude. No, I do say dude sometimes I say dude.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, you're a dude, right? You're right.

[Nicole Byer]

Come on, dude.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, yes, we are.

[Nicole Byer]

That sounds cute.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I don't know.

[Latrice Royale]

You're a bit of a generation, a bit of a Valley girl.

[Nicole Byer]

Just a little bit. Just a little bit. So you met after Latrice, you were doing a drag show, you met afterwards, right?

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

And how did that meeting go? How did you introduce yourself? Cause I met you after one of Latrice's shows.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, let's start there, because what a moment. Like, really, like, we were at the Rockwell table on stage. Right.

[Nicole Byer]

RIP And.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, she know I'm here.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, yeah. May she rest in peace. Indeed. That was sad. I wish. Yeah, but you came and I think you had been on TV a couple of times, but loosely. Exactly. Hadn't was about to happen.

[Nicole Byer]

I believe so, because.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And I don't want to misrepresent, but you seemed very moved by the performance of the woman.

[Nicole Byer]

Yeah, Latrice reminded me of my mother. And I was like, wow, my dead mom's here.

[Latrice Royale]

There you go.

[Nicole Byer]

And that's what I said to you.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That was literally the first thing that came out of your mouth to me.

[Nicole Byer]

Hello, I'm Nicole. Can you tell Latrice you reminded me of my dead mom? And you blinked at me and you.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Were like, and who was your friend that was with. Who did you have with you?

[Nicole Byer]

Oh, God, I wish I could remember. Oh, I think it was my friend Maureen. I think that's who I was.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That sounds right. She was protesting losing her performance space. Not my attitude. Right, exactly, Maureen. And she vouched. She was like, I know she sounds crazy, but she's, like, about to be on tv. And I promise, like, really, she's sane. And I went upstairs to Latrice and I said, there's this girl downstairs who's, like, really passionately wanting to tell you about her connection. And here we are.

[Nicole Byer]

And here we are, years later.

[Christopher Hamblin]

The glow up is so real. We have just watched you go live. Stratospheres.

[Nicole Byer]

I mean, same for you guys.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, thanks. Yeah, well, thanks. We're doing all right.

[Latrice Royale]

You know, we make it look good.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I went to her show like any other hoe there's no way to not make me sound like that. I went to the meet and greet. The meet and greet was.

[Nicole Byer]

Did you go to the meet and greet with, like, intentions?

[Latrice Royale]

Well, I mean, I think he did, but not in the. It didn't play out the way that maybe he had in mind, because the meet and greet was going to shit. It was. And he caught my face, like, I. I was ready to bounce.

[Nicole Byer]

Oh. So comedians were happening.

[Latrice Royale]

Well, because, first of all, okay, they hadn't had very many girls from the show at the club, so they were very green and figuring it out. But somebody had the brilliant idea to put the meet and greet in between the two shows. So when do I get a break? When do I get to pee? When do I get to pat off? You know what I mean?

[Christopher Hamblin]

I was also catching the face of our dearly departed friend Zena, who was the show director. And she wasn't gonna get to smoke a cigarette or piss or nothing. And she was bitter boots, like, just mad. And so I thought. And at the time, I was the music director at the gay church. I was directing the Gay Men's Chorus. Yes.

[Nicole Byer]

In Knoxville that he started.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah, yeah, all. And so it mattered to me whether someone like Latrice, but specifically Latrice, had a good time in our community. Like, please don't walk away going, oh, don't like to tell jujubee not to come to Knoxville. You know what I mean? Like, that was gonna be. Don't let that be the reputation. So I stepped in to help. Cause, you know, I'm not your average fan. I, you know, was. I knew how to help, and I did, and you did. I've been running meet and greets for 13 years now.

[Nicole Byer]

I like when people say, step in, and they're like, no, no, no. This is going very poorly. You get over there. You, over here. You. I was at a. It was like a. Not a clothing swap. It was like a. I don't know, a costume department was clearing out their clothes, and it was, like, chaotic. And this lady was like, okay, we're gonna move this box over here, and we're gonna move this over here. And I was like, that's my hero. That bitch right there.

[Latrice Royale]

Thank you. And the Quorum. Honey, please.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm not good at that. I'll just be like, I will fully.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Rearrange a bookstore for free. I like Stephen King section. If, like, Salem's Lot is before Carrie, I can't be bothered until I move it. That's my particular form of a realism, a Little special and a little special.

[Nicole Byer]

No, I get that. I get that. So what was your first interaction?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Like, she dropped her Sharpie and he.

[Latrice Royale]

Bent over to pick it up.

[Nicole Byer]

And you said, ooh, ooh, ooh, I like what I see.

[Latrice Royale]

So I dropped it again. Girl, what is a white boy getting all these canes? So, you know, I was flirting like queens do, and he was keeping up tit for tat. Like, he was not backing down. He had a rebuttal for every comment or whatever. So I was like, oh, bitch, you not scared. He's like, bitch, I'm grown too. I was like, oh, okay. So immediately I'm intrigued, you know.

[Nicole Byer]

Okay.

[Latrice Royale]

So, you know, I invited him to, like, hang out afterwards.

[Christopher Hamblin]

To the shock and appall, I think, of some of the people at the club. I don't think they were prepared for me to be the one that Latrice noticed. I mean, I'll just be real. They all thought I was crazy already. Like, I was doing things very out of the box and not. What, Knox, what do you mean? Well, I had gone to New York and tried to have my little club kid moment, you know what I mean? And, like, you know, I'd gone on some adventures, you know?

[Nicole Byer]

Sure.

[Christopher Hamblin]

So, like, some people. There were some, you know, people had opinions and ideas. And then when the Latrice did notice, now they all knew me, when right now, everybody is like, oh, I've known him since. Well, yeah, you have, but you didn't seem to care then. But now that I'm married to a Drag Race superstar, here you are, so. But it's great. I love that they embraced it. The community has watched me evolve as well, which is a really lovely blessing. Cause it wasn't what I was expecting to happen.

[Nicole Byer]

Now, did you ever think you would get married? Cause, Latrice, I feel like you said you would never get married.

[Latrice Royale]

No.

[Christopher Hamblin]

This is the last thing either of us thought about, really.

[Nicole Byer]

And then you were like, we just have to do it. Who proposed to who?

[Christopher Hamblin]

It was right after the Pulse Orlando incident, and we had just lost a really good friend of ours there, as many of us did, and he left the house one day, and I really thought that he was, like, going somewhere to try to find me Xanax to calm me down. And it turned out that he was going to buy an engagement ring that I didn't know about. And that next weekend we went to Seattle to again, rest in Peace, Our place, one of our favorite clubs, in a really legendary spot. And she called me up on stage.

[Latrice Royale]

Right after My number. And I got down on one knee. Well, the thing of it is, I hadn't seen this possibility in my lifetime. Things were happening, and then marriage equality. I was fighting for marriage equality. I was touring and doing all kind of rallies and trying to get people to vote. So then when it passed and I started doing. I got ordained because a friend of mine wanted me to officiate. So once I started doing weddings and bringing these couples together and seeing the magic of the harmony between both sides of the family, I'm like, it didn't matter that it was the same sex. It was. Love was the common denominator. And I was just like, how am I doing this? And not. You know what I mean? I was. It was like I was moved to tears every time I was, you know, involved. And so then I'm like, I need this in my life. And, yeah, I knew. I knew that he was the one. Like, I wasn't gonna do it until I was absolutely, positively sure. And I was.

[Nicole Byer]

And what was the moment where you knew that he was the one?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, I mean, I don't want to speak for you, but I came out the gate hot. Like, I don't know what possessed me. Looking back, it sounds crazy, but that first night that we met and I did go back to the hotel room, he was trying to be modest about taking a shower and whatever. I was like, we all watched you on tv. Like, there's, like, I've seen you in and out. Like, take your shower. I'll be here when you get back.

[Latrice Royale]

That's all I want to make sure. He wants to steal my money. No, I'm kidding.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That too fair. Totally fair. Totally fair.

[Nicole Byer]

The tip, darling. I'm worried about the tips. That'd be funny if you pulled your duffel bag of ones in the shower with you.

[Latrice Royale]

Very Aretha Franklin.

[Nicole Byer]

I'll take the shower, but I'm gonna bring this with me.

[Latrice Royale]

I'm gonna bring this with me.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But that night, I said, I think I know what you're doing, and if you agree, I'd love to hang out. And if you think I'm in the way, I'll get out of it as soon as I can. But I think what you're doing matters in the world, and I want to see that continue. And I really need you to not burn out. And so you've got this latrice thing under control. But, like, is anybody taking care of Tim? And I don't know why I would be moved to say that. Like, I wasn't aware of feeling like, oh, I'm so in love with this person at that time. But I just. As an objective fan of this individual and the work that they put into the world, I still believe that today, like, whether we were married or not, that's incredibly sweet. This person matters in the world and it's my privilege to help take care of him.

[Nicole Byer]

That is so sweet that on the first night you were like, I see you as a human being. Like, you know, the glam, the glitter aside, I just want to make sure that, like, you're taken care of. That must have felt.

[Latrice Royale]

That was beyond anything anyone has ever said to me. Like. Like, I've been in and out of relationships and whatever, but no one has ever just separated and was like, no, you, this person right here. Are you okay? We need you.

[Nicole Byer]

I love that so much.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Why are you getting me to cry on this podcast? It's not even what we do here.

[Nicole Byer]

Love is sweet. Love is wonderful. I'm a hopeless romantic and I. I love love. And I love when people are moved to tears because of someone they love. That's just. I don't know, I think that's so romantic and nice. Sometimes when I talk about my relationship, I will just like, tear up. And I'm like, I love them so much.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But you had the same response. You were moved to tears at a performance and hearing this person's story and what they bring out in. I don't know what the kids get out with Latrice, but I think there's nobody else in the world that provides that. Like. Yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

So I agree. I don't know. You're an incredible performer. Where did that come from?

[Latrice Royale]

Just experience. Like, you have to. I feel like in order to be like a well rounded performer, entertainer, anything, artist, it has to come from a place. You have to have gone through something, gotten through something. You know what I mean?

[Nicole Byer]

Yes.

[Latrice Royale]

And that is a testament of me, of my passion and my love for the art. And so I want to convey and make you feel something. Like, if you're not feeling anything, whether it's emotion of, you know, tears or excitement because I'm shablamming or whatever, you gonna have to have an experience with me. Like, that's the goal. Or else what am I doing?

[Nicole Byer]

I love that.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

Also, you mentioned that you started officiating weddings and you were like, there's so much love. Why don't I have this? I feel the same. I was very indifferent about getting married. I'd go back and forth, I'd be like, I want a wedding. I Don't want a wedding. And then I officiated one of my best friends weddings and I was like, well, I have to have one of.

[Latrice Royale]

These and make it better.

[Nicole Byer]

I have to make it better. I gotta show this bitch up.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We had a great wedding, baby.

[Latrice Royale]

People, we did have a great wedding.

[Nicole Byer]

Where was it? It was in Florida.

[Latrice Royale]

No, Atlanta.

[Nicole Byer]

Oh, Atlanta. Yeah.

[Latrice Royale]

We got married in Atlanta.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Sort of a central spot for our Florida Delta.

[Latrice Royale]

Delta hub.

[Nicole Byer]

Everybody get Delta hub.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Easy to go out to talk about Delta on this podcast.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm a Delta Diamond Diva.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Hello. We're taking up old bones now.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm a Delta Diamond Diva Till I die.

[Latrice Royale]

I'll never.

[Nicole Byer]

Are you a 360?

[Latrice Royale]

I'm a 1 million miler.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm a 1 million miler. They gave me 360, but then they took it away.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, no.

[Nicole Byer]

Mine didn't fly as much.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I didn't go anywhere this year. I sat at home and they do not give a damn about me next year and it's fine. But like, Alex, at the same time.

[Nicole Byer]

That rolled over that I'm diamond until 2028.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah.

[Latrice Royale]

Hey, girl. That gave me four years of diamond status, girl. I was like, ooh, yeah. So you know, whether I fly or not, I'm cool.

[Nicole Byer]

People must be so sick of me talking about my medallion status on soundtrack. It matters all the time. I'm just like. Like, I'm a Delta diamond diva. Don't you know it matters. Don't you know you wanna see the.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Tag on my carry on?

[Nicole Byer]

See, I don't do that.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, no, you don't do the tag.

[Nicole Byer]

And I don't know why. I just.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I just literally one on your laptop bag right now.

[Nicole Byer]

I love it. You're like, I do. No, I just like to surprise them when they scan me in and they go, oh, thank you for being a million miler. And I'm like, you're welcome.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, my God. When I first started getting status, I would be right behind him boarding a plane, and they would thank him for his diamond status, and then they would just let me board. And I was like, you specifically did not thank me just now. And I finally started then saying, like, why didn't you thank me? You just thanked my spouse. Like, what's going on here? Right? I mean, for real.

[Nicole Byer]

That's so fun.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You're welcome.

[Nicole Byer]

Thank me. Thank me. I was once flying Comfort plus and they didn't thank me for anything. And I was like, put the riff raff back here. They don't give a shit about me. They don't care about me. The commoners, right? Wait, tell me about your wedding.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, it was an event. Well, we had dreams because what we wanted to do more than anything was make sure that we gave our friends, family, an experience by us being entertainers and producers. We, of course, wanted to produce a product, so we.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I just needed live music.

[Latrice Royale]

Live.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I couldn't with talent that. I love talent. So we had to hire actual people. Our band, two of our guys that go on tour with us a lot were our bass and drummer. And then Brian Nash from New York came and basically replaced me in my band for my wedding and knocked it out of the park. We had. But Marty Thomas was there. One of our singers, Lily McLeod from the Voice, came and did the most amazing rendition of Alabaster Box.

[Nicole Byer]

I've never heard that song.

[Christopher Hamblin]

It's a little Jesusy for what you usually have. I'm not gonna sing. CC Lyman, see you on this podcast and get read by everybody.

[Nicole Byer]

Alabasterbucks.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That's exactly how it goes.

[Nicole Byer]

There's a box in his wine. I call it Alabaster. Is that how I got the.

[Latrice Royale]

That's exactly it.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You nailed it.

[Latrice Royale]

You don't know the.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I knew there was a singer in your soul. I knew there was a in your soul.

[Nicole Byer]

So, speaking about singing, Latrice, did Christopher inspire you to sing?

[Latrice Royale]

Did indeed.

[Nicole Byer]

I love that.

[Latrice Royale]

I was. I was not, because, like, you know, this Barry White and Drag over here that don't connect. All this femininity and then this big old bass voice. So I never saw that happening because I was like, just weird. It just was weird. But he was noodling on the piano one day while I was cooking in the kitchen. He was playing Summertime in a natural soprano key. But I came in with a very, you know, Paul Robeson old slave hymnal. Old, very old people get a time. Remember that. He's like, babe, you know, if you stop being silly and stupid, you can actually do this. And so he started, you know.

[Nicole Byer]

So did you do, like, voice lessons?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, I would hear him singing in the car, not paying attention when nobody was paying attention. He had a great ear. But then we sat down and I tried to get him to sing Summertime and take it seriously. And it's the shyest I have ever seen this person. I think singing is. Nothing would come out of his voice.

[Nicole Byer]

Very vulnerable. It is because it's one of the talents that you can have where people are pretty decisive. It's like, you're good or you're bad.

[Latrice Royale]

You know, and it really is not.

[Nicole Byer]

Like, you know, yeah, when you're bad, you're pretty bad.

[Latrice Royale]

You're bad.

[Christopher Hamblin]

There's not much room for the middle.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, there's not a lot of room for the middle. And I never classified or thought or called myself a singer. I can sing, I can carry a tune. You know what I mean? But I wouldn't call myself a singer. But then I started watching, like, you know, I'm very into Gladys Knight. And she would always say that she's not a riffer. She doesn't do all the runs and all the. But what she does do is know how to deliver and tell a story and make. And that's why people are connected to Gladys. She's not doing all those acrobatics. It's just straight from the soul.

[Nicole Byer]

Just from the soul.

[Latrice Royale]

And I learned that's what I needed to. That's me. That's what I can do, and I do well. And so that's probably why you were moved to tears.

[Nicole Byer]

Just boo.

[Latrice Royale]

Booing.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, we were going hard in the early days of that show, too. We were talking about you being in jail and losing your mother and the whole thing we. We've lightened up on. But the response is still often the same. And even before Latrice was singing live, there was so much feedback that you would get about literally healing properties in the timbre of your voice. People respond to just the natural tone of your voice. So I don't think they hear. Not to be so deep about it, but gender with your voice. They hear Latrice, they know your voice and they identify it. And so it doesn't matter how deep it is. In fact, I think it richens it. I just love his voice now. It's so. Created a little bit of a monster.

[Nicole Byer]

I love that. I once went to a Gladys Knight concert. It was Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills. Shocker.

[Latrice Royale]

You went to the Queenie Bell.

[Nicole Byer]

I did. Got there late. Missed Gladys Knight. Gladys Knight got on at 7pm it started at 7pm, baby.

[Latrice Royale]

She had to go home to the house.

[Nicole Byer]

There was a bunch of black women being like, they knew we weren't gonna be here on time. Why would they start it on time?

[Latrice Royale]

Because this is why. Get your. Get there. Get there. I saw Gladys in concert and it was just magical. She brought her brother out like, that woman sounded like it was 1970. Whatever.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm so upset. She started right on time. I couldn't believe it.

[Latrice Royale]

It's magical. Her and Diana Ross were spectacular.

[Nicole Byer]

Diana Ross is lovely.

[Latrice Royale]

I got to see her In Vegas.

[Nicole Byer]

I haven't seen her live. I've only just seen, you know, live performances on YouTube and whatnot. Shot Khan was so fun.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, I can imagine.

[Nicole Byer]

Oh, my God. She forgot her set. And she went, good night, everybody. And she turned around, she went, one more, one more, everybody. And it made me laugh so hard. I was like.

[Latrice Royale]

It was real.

[Nicole Byer]

It was so real. And I love that. I love when you see, like, real moments on set. Ugh. It was. It was wonderful.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah. That's what we didn't say. We walked down the aisle to through the Fire.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, we did that.

[Nicole Byer]

Don Tallman.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Dawn Tallman sang the hell. I mean, like, put her entire foot into that song. And she had done it very well in rehearsal. But then something happened. Our family had walked through and done the aisle. And then when we opened the door and came down through the test of time, people lost their mind.

[Nicole Byer]

I would have lost my fucking mind. Is such a good song.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And I was back there fully, like, telling people when to enter and, like, directing the like. And producing my own wedding.

[Nicole Byer]

Stage managing your own wedding. So funny. And you're wrong.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Why would I pay somebody else just to be mad at them for being in my way the whole time?

[Nicole Byer]

I love that I'm at my wedding. No, I'm going to be on autopilot. I'm just going to show up.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That would have been nice.

[Nicole Byer]

Say the words and then drink.

[Latrice Royale]

Well, you know that the other part of this story is that I was filming All Stars 4 during the time.

[Nicole Byer]

During the planning of the wedding.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, like, we were getting married in September, and I was away all of July and August, literally not allowed to talk.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah, they called me because she went straight from filming All Stars 4 to filming the Hollisleigh Spectacular, and I shipped stuff for that before she even knew that she was gonna be doing it. So that was about six weeks of our wedding planning.

[Nicole Byer]

That is wild.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I was going to Atlanta, get a contract in perpetuity.

[Nicole Byer]

You're doing it. Ship her shit. Yeah, she's doing it. That's wild.

[Latrice Royale]

Wild, girl. Cause they pulled me out to ask.

[Nicole Byer]

Me, and you're like, oh, let me.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Go get my stuff.

[Nicole Byer]

It's here.

[Latrice Royale]

I said, I don't have any Christmas things. I didn't bring anything for Christmas. No worries. We already talked to Christopher. It's already been shipped.

[Nicole Byer]

What? I'm dying, girl. You're here, so. And now your shit's here. So we're gonna shoot that. We're gonna shoot it real quick. That's wild. So when you got back Was there any choices that Christopher made that you were like, the fuck?

[Christopher Hamblin]

No.

[Latrice Royale]

No. Cause, like, before I left, we were very much on the same page. I did as much as I could to be involved in the process. So he knew what we were going for, and he was. He just knocked it out the park. And it was.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But literally, my mother was the only person that really knew where he was. And I was having meetings with, like, cake makers and florists. Our poor florist friend, like, he thought that I was just insane because I.

[Nicole Byer]

You're just planning this wedding alone. You're like, latrice is marrying me. And they're like, sure, girl.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We're back to people thinking I'm crazy. Our friend Nicole Phillips kept asking me, where's Latrice? Where's Latrice? And I said, nicole, why would I not tell you where Latrice is? And she finally went, bitch, bitch. Oh, bitch. Oh, bitch. And it was just a series of bitches that all meant a different level of realization about where Latrice was. And she went, okay, I got it, I got it, I got it. And she just quit asking, finally. And I was like, I.

[Nicole Byer]

That is wild. Real quick, we gotta take a break. You know how we always talk about messy dating and relationship issues? Well, here's something that will make dating even messier. All of us losing access to sexual and reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood believes we should have access to care and the freedom to make decisions about our health and futures. Whether you need STI testing and treatment, birth control, gender affirming care, abortion, sex education, or another sexual and reproductive health service. Planned Parenthood is here for you and all of us, honestly. But lawmakers across the country are preventing people from getting essential health care, trying to deny people birth control, promoting abstinence only until marriage programs. Ew. And attacking Planned Parenthood. They quite literally want to control our bodies, decisions and futures like little puppets. Right now, millions of people could lose access to care, especially women, black and Latino people, people in rural, and people who are low income. Planned Parenthood believes health care is a human right that everyone deserves. And together with people like you and me, they fight every day to build the future we deserve. One where everyone can get the care that they need, no matter who they are or where they live. Supporters like you power this work. Donate to support Planned Parenthood now@planned parenthood.com defend. Oh, every time December hits, I suddenly remember a whole list of people. People I need to shop for. The Macy's friends and family sale makes that panic way easier to deal with because all the good gifts go on sale at once. You get 30 off their best brands plus 15 off beauty and fragrances. And the beauty gift sets are already packaged and ready to hand over. That alone knocks out half my list, which saves me from wrapping, which is honestly a gift too. They've got fine jewelry for up to 50 off, which makes gifting way easier because jewelry always feels thoughtful even when you grabbed it five minutes ago. And if you have people coming over for anything this month, Macy's has Christmas dinnerware and table linens. Now 65 off. It'll instantly make your place look put together without trying too hard. So if you want to get ahead on gifting or just make your life a little easier this month, shop the Macy's Friends and Family sale. While everything's still on discount. Get your Christmas shopping finish. If you're a last minute shopper like me, you know the feeling. Shelves are empty and the ideas are running low. Aura Frames is the solution with a gift anyone can enjoy. It is the best digital frame on the market that your recipient is going to love to use. It is the perfect gift because you can preload it with memories and keep updating it with photos straight from your phone. Keep it fresh by adding photos to it all year long so you stay in their face forever. It's a gift that evolves and updates with their life. It comes in a super nice gift box so it'll look thoughtful and expensive and it was even named one of Oprah's favorite things. Listen, you can't wrap togetherness, but you could frame it for a limited time. Save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get 35 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by wire cutter by using promo code Date me at checkout. That's a A U R A frames.com promo code date me. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at the checkout. Terms and conditions apply. Boop boop boop boop. We're back. So is it wild when Latrice is shooting something where you can't say where Latrice is?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yes.

[Nicole Byer]

And then is it wild to just be away without a phone?

[Latrice Royale]

It's horrible. It's horrible.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You said you had more freedom in jail.

[Nicole Byer]

I did than I drag race. At least they let you out in the yard.

[Latrice Royale]

They did. And there's a phone booth. It's like.

[Nicole Byer]

Like what? There's a phone booth.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And once you had some good behavior, you had the Internet, everything.

[Latrice Royale]

I'm just saying.

[Nicole Byer]

That's wild.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah. Yeah, girl. Like, the sacrifice was real. Like, people don't even know. Like, there is a lot of sacrifice to make on both sides. Like, he has to be alone a lot. He has to put up with me a lot. And all the shenanigans of the business, you know? And you know how it is. You know how it is.

[Nicole Byer]

It's tough.

[Latrice Royale]

It's tough. It's hard out here for a pimp, so.

[Nicole Byer]

It's hard out here for a pimp.

[Christopher Hamblin]

It is, it is.

[Nicole Byer]

It is. It's very hard. And I've dealt with that in my relationship with that nice man, where I would just, like, be planning stuff and, like, hanging out when I was home and then, like, leave town. And he was like, hey, can you think of me planning stuff when you're home? I was like, oh, Bug, yes. Oh, you should be coming first. Oopsie.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah. It's an adjustment.

[Nicole Byer]

It really is.

[Latrice Royale]

It's an adjustment.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We went well with that. But I think the most, like, logistically challenging thing really comes when, like, our gay friends just want to, like, go to the bar one night and they don't fully realize that they're inviting Latrice Royale to a meet and greet.

[Nicole Byer]

Yes.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And that, sorry to sound bitter, but changes my whole experience. I don't get to be just a whole normal gay at the club.

[Nicole Byer]

I don't think that sounds good.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And so I accept that we have a really lovely, privileged existence. And that's one of the costs is, like, people know who we are and they're very excited to see my spouse, which is very exciting most of the time. Except when you're just trying to get drunk with your spouse at the bar one night.

[Nicole Byer]

Do you have rules about going out? Rules? I mean, like, if somebody asks for a picture with me, I'll always do it. I'm happy to do it. I love that people love me, but I'll never make that nice man take it because I'm like, I don't want him to feel a certain type of way. So that's.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, that's been one of the actual professional functions of my. Sorry, my relationship with Latrice. If you've met Latrice at dragcon, you met me first. And I probably took the picture that you posted wherever you posted it for, like, a lot of years.

[Nicole Byer]

That's DragCon. That's correct. So, like, when you're out, is it the same Are we switching?

[Christopher Hamblin]

I fall into it pretty naturally most of the time, but if somebody is around, that can do it for me. I stay out of the way these days too. I do try to fair. I don't need as many selfies with the drag race girls as I used to. But for years I. Willem's a great example. I finally had to go, hey, there are no pictures of us. Like we're actual friends. And I forget to ask. Cause the last thing I know my friend wants to do is have to take another damn picture after the meet and greet. So I don't ask. But then eventually you do.

[Nicole Byer]

Have you ever thought about going to straight bars?

[Christopher Hamblin]

I used to work at one, but we don't hang out much there anymore.

[Nicole Byer]

I mean, just a night like a queer friendly straight bar.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Honestly, we're still content by our pool with our weed. Like, if I can be naked with a blind in my hand, that's where I'm gonna be.

[Latrice Royale]

But honestly, these days, nobody.

[Nicole Byer]

The straights know you too.

[Latrice Royale]

But no. Like, isn't that what the gay bars are now?

[Nicole Byer]

M. Speak on it.

[Latrice Royale]

I'm just saying.

[Nicole Byer]

No. Yeah, it's a lot of straight ladies and men who are like, oh, the straight ladies are here. It's kind of wild.

[Latrice Royale]

Very wild.

[Nicole Byer]

So it's like, stay away.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, we kind of getting pushed out of our own spaces here and there. But like, I'm cool because I don't need to go to the club. I mean, you work in the club, you know. Yeah. And I.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We have that experience.

[Latrice Royale]

I'm just saying that like, 2am is wild for me. When the club is closing and I'm the last bitch out. I have a problem with that. So that's topical and just happened.

[Nicole Byer]

Ooh. And we're feeling some type of girl.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We're feeling some type of way.

[Latrice Royale]

Feeling some type of way about it. That is ridiculous. I should have been. Have been gone.

[Nicole Byer]

Uh huh.

[Latrice Royale]

Um, but yeah, we're here, so.

[Nicole Byer]

No, I get that. When you're just like, all right, so who works here? And nobody. How do I leave? How do I leave? Nobody's working and how do I leave?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, this reminds me. This is the moment. Sometimes though, you still have to go pop the corn to feed the children as you sit. But I want you. Well, we want you to know that we've been watching and you and mono on your why won't you scare me episode. Correct. Had a discussion about a certain catchphrase.

[Nicole Byer]

Pop the corn and feed the children.

[Christopher Hamblin]

How the ever miss fame is not the originator of that phrase. And that's not how the phrase goes.

[Nicole Byer]

Wait, no, miss Fame didn't say it. Who said it correct?

[Christopher Hamblin]

It's a Jasmine Masters quote. And you're so close, but it's actually.

[Latrice Royale]

Pop the corn so the kids can eat.

[Nicole Byer]

Is this a u quote?

[Latrice Royale]

This is a Jasmine massacre.

[Nicole Byer]

Oh, it's a Jasmine Master.

[Christopher Hamblin]

So this is our official justice for Jasmine moment.

[Latrice Royale]

Pop the corn.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Where's my camera? Justice for Jasmine. Wherever I'm looking.

[Nicole Byer]

Justice for Jasmine.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Justice for Jasmine. I fucked up.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm sorry.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Jasmine.

[Latrice Royale]

No, no, no, no.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I am so obsessed with. Because she told this story on hey Queen years ago. And I just think it's the funniest thing. And one day I was stoned out of my gourd. And I had this visual idea for a merch line of pop the corn so the kids can eat. And I would not leave Manila Luzon alone until she drew it for me. So, Nicole, this is the first public presentation of Manila Luzon's interpretation of Pop the corn so the kids can eat. And I was cleaning my. My office right after you said this and found it. And I brought it from Florida.

[Latrice Royale]

That's it.

[Christopher Hamblin]

To show to you now.

[Nicole Byer]

These children so excited to eat corns that have turned into popcorn. That is very fucking funny. In a pleaser with a heel. That's a little fucked up. Yes, ma'.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Am.

[Nicole Byer]

Ooh, wait, I think that's a six inch pleaser. Cause the front isn't that big. That's very funny. For the audio listeners, could you describe the. Okay, so it's a please. It's a pleaser sandal. But it doesn't have the ankle strap. The heel is a little fucked up because I feel like the bitch is a little big. So it's a little. It's a little.

[Latrice Royale]

She been walking down stairs and then.

[Nicole Byer]

She'S got some corn and the corns are turning into popcorn. And then there's like Charlie Brown people. And they're so happy. They're so happy. I'm dying. This is so funny to me.

[Christopher Hamblin]

This is why we're imaginary best friends.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm dying. I want a copy.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I won't make you a copy.

[Nicole Byer]

Do we have a photocopier here?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Do they still make xerox machine?

[Nicole Byer]

I think so.

[Christopher Hamblin]

So Manila Luzon's artwork credit to all people deserve. Yes. Pop the corn so the kids can eat.

[Nicole Byer]

So the kids can eat.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

Season seven Latrice. Your seasons. I like them. Some of my favorite episodes. The Romper Room shenanigans. Oh baby killed me but season seven is one of my favorite seasons.

[Latrice Royale]

They had some good things happen out of that season.

[Nicole Byer]

It's my favorite because. Because every challenge is an acting challenge, and none of them are horrible.

[Latrice Royale]

They were horrible.

[Nicole Byer]

And it was funny that they watched it happen and they didn't go, we should make adjustments. They said, no, we're gonna keep going with this.

[Latrice Royale]

So you loved it for all the wrong reasons.

[Nicole Byer]

I sure did.

[Latrice Royale]

And I love that.

[Nicole Byer]

Shakesqueer is just a beacon of perfection to me. Damn, damn, damn.

[Latrice Royale]

Nicole, you're twisted.

[Nicole Byer]

I love it so much. Jasmin Master is going, it's a cocoon. It's a cocoon. That is a butterfly combs. It's a cocoon. It's a cocoon. It's a cocoon. I sometimes will just play it on a loop. It makes me laugh so hard.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Weird, too.

[Latrice Royale]

Cocoon, Cocoon.

[Nicole Byer]

Cocoon. Cocoon. It's a cocoon.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Last time I asked her, I don't think she ever saw the movie Cocoon, which I think is a problem. Like, I think I still really need to make her sit down and watch Cocoon. I've seen Cocoon, Nicole, all the old people. Wilford Brimley and.

[Nicole Byer]

I don't know Wilford Brimley.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You don't remember. With the diabetes.

[Nicole Byer]

Diabetes, Diabetes.

[Christopher Hamblin]

He did Cream of Wheat or Quaker Oats or something. And. Well, yeah, he was like. It was the batteries not included era of movies. And.

[Nicole Byer]

How old are you?

[Christopher Hamblin]

45 this term.

[Nicole Byer]

Why?

[Latrice Royale]

The.

[Nicole Byer]

Cause I'm younger. I don't know certain things. Cause I'm a baby.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, I forgot.

[Nicole Byer]

What? I don't know. Cucun.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I just showed my age, apparently, is what we learned today.

[Nicole Byer]

I'm kidding. I'm 99. I always just say older. Why not? I like telling. I was working on this Google thing, and the PAs were 28, 29. And they're like, how old are you? I was like, 62. And they're like, you look so good. And I was like. And I don't think I ever told.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Them that's the way to do.

[Latrice Royale]

That's how you do.

[Nicole Byer]

Living their lives, thinking, I'm 62 or 69 or whatever the fuck I say.

[Christopher Hamblin]

What is it you always.

[Latrice Royale]

What do I always say?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Black don't crack unless you smoke it.

[Nicole Byer]

That's it.

[Latrice Royale]

You know it. That is the truth.

[Nicole Byer]

It is the truth, girl.

[Latrice Royale]

Cause when it do fall off.

[Nicole Byer]

Ooh, that is so funny. Black don't crack unless you smoke it. They gotta make that into, like, a new drug commercial.

[Latrice Royale]

I mean.

[Nicole Byer]

Cause it Is true.

[Latrice Royale]

It is very true.

[Nicole Byer]

Let's take another break. Well, this podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. If you have a passion project, a business, or you just want to show off your cute face to the world, you need a website. Squarespace is the all in one website platform designed to help you stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or you're scaling up your empire, Squarespace gives you everything you need to claim your domain, showcase your offerings, and get paid all in one place. You know, I have so many comedian friends who have these gorgeous professional looking websites and I always look at them and ask, whoo, who'd you hire? How much did that cost? And they always tell me, girl, I did it myself. With Squarespace, they have cutting edge design tools. You can use their blueprint tool or their award winning templates to make an online presence that fits your vibe perfectly. And if you're offering any services, Squarespace creates an easy workflow so customers can schedule appointments and get you paid on time. Head to squarespace.com date me for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use offer code date me to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Support for this podcast is brought to you by Chamberlain University. Okay, listen, I know so many people who keep saying they want to make a big change. Change. Go back to school, switch careers, start something new. And if you've ever thought about getting into health care or leveling up in it, you really should know about Chamberlain University because they've been preparing healthcare professionals for over 130 years and they're the largest nursing school in the entire country. Learning is actually built for real life there. You can choose from online programs, hybrid setups, or even in person classes. If there's a campus near you. And classes start every eight weeks so you don't have to wait a whole year to begin. You can just start when you're ready. They have faculty and mentors who actually check in, guide you and help you stay right on track, giving you real support at every stage. So if you've been feeling it's time for something different in your career, Chamberlain wants you to know you've got this and we've got you. Learn more at Chamberlain Eduardo Chamberlain University Belong to something greater. Certified to operate by Shev. And we're back. So your show, how did you come up with it? And why a Christmas show?

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, well, well, it originated.

[Christopher Hamblin]

It originated. We had been doing her autobiographical cabaret show in New York and they asked us back to come to the Laurie Beechman Theater. They wanted us for Christmas, and it didn't make sense to us to do the same show that we had just done. And so I think that's when it started. And actually Kennedy Davenport was part of the original cast and she had this amazing old church lady character that she did. We do a Every year we update it, but we do a version of the 12 gays of Christmas. And now Jessica Vosk, this amazing Broadway singer, has done a version. I think it's Jessica that did it. But we have our own take.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, we do.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And that's really the meat and bones of the show. And it's ridiculous. Ridiculous. It's the stupidest thing we've ever done on stage. And we have a great time.

[Nicole Byer]

I love silly.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We can tell.

[Nicole Byer]

I do. The dumber the better. Also, I love Kennedy Davenport.

[Christopher Hamblin]

In spite of herself, but we love her.

[Nicole Byer]

One of my favorite queens.

[Christopher Hamblin]

She just messaged me today. She calls me Uncle June Bug. And she was trying to message me.

[Nicole Byer]

Of course she does.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I made some good Kool Aid one day and I got renamed. What happened? And she messaged me and she had started typing uncle into Facebook and then realized that wasn't gonna work and then started typing Junebug and then realized, no, his real name, idiot. And finally remembered that I'm Christopher and got a hold of me.

[Nicole Byer]

Uncle Junebug. That's so funny.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

Her lip sync against Katya, I think gets overlooked as one of the all time best lip syncs. I think they made a rule that you can't leap off the stage anymore after she did that.

[Christopher Hamblin]

It's kind of amazing how many huge stars came out of that season. Like, horrible. It was not received well.

[Nicole Byer]

No, it wasn't. Everyone hated it. And I was like, give me, give me more, give me more. I loved was one of my favorite. So when you were on television the first time, did you think that you were gonna get the response that you got? Like, did you think you would be so beloved?

[Latrice Royale]

No, I had no clue. Like, I literally went in so green. And I was really nervous during the audition process that I wasn't gonna get on the show because of my background. But as I started talking more and more with the producers and letting them know why it was important that I did the show, they leaned into it and encouraged me to lean into that message. And so I don't know if they created the apocalyptic, post apocalyptic.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, poor Lashawn. Ms. Lashawn.

[Latrice Royale]

But that challenge, when Ru asked me when was my end of the world moment, I knew that was the question. And so I just leaned in and said, hey.

[Nicole Byer]

And at first, did you have qualms about sharing that you had been in jail?

[Latrice Royale]

I went back and forth, but I was like, I want to get it out before anybody else tried to dig it up and be like, you know, this is a convict, right? You're like, no, bitch. So, like, you take the power away from all those people, and then you make it your power and become empowering, you know? And so that's how that went down.

[Nicole Byer]

I like that you were like, well, I'll just tell you, like, before you go and find out. Cause I feel like owning a mistake is better than, like, not acknowledging it.

[Latrice Royale]

Well, that's what got me into the problem in the first place. Not owning the mistake and not taking care of. Of my responsibilities. You know what I mean? And so I love.

[Nicole Byer]

Because you missed a court date.

[Latrice Royale]

I did. I didn't go and report for probation. And so, like, that was. Yeah, I learned from that. Yeah. And so, yeah, we don't. We don't. We don't run from it anymore. We run head first into it and own up. Own your shit and move on. Learn from it, grow from it, and move on.

[Nicole Byer]

I also just think if you don't own it and people do find out about it, I don't know why people just can't go, I made a mistake and I'm sorry. Like, I. I feel like people, you did it. You did just say, yeah, I did it, and I'm sorry. I said X, Y, and Z. Da, da, da. I don't know.

[Latrice Royale]

But accountability, like, they don't want to. People don't want to do that. I mean, like, it means that you have to admit some faults and some things and reevaluate who you are and what kind of person does what you just did and all those. So, you know, people don't want to take accountability because it makes you have to look inward.

[Nicole Byer]

And a lot of people don't want to hold that mirror up to them, but that's okay.

[Latrice Royale]

I got one for you.

[Nicole Byer]

I got one in my pocket.

[Latrice Royale]

I got one for you, honey.

[Nicole Byer]

I have to do that in my relationship sometimes. Sometimes I'll say something, and I love joking around, but sometimes I'll phrase something a little rude, and he'll be like, hey. And I have to go, ooh, yeah. And I just have to think and go, okay, you weren't offended, but you're the one who said it. He's telling you he didn't like it. So the nicest Thing you can say is, I'm sorry. Do you wanna know why I said it? You don't have. Like, you could say no. You could go, I don't really want to hear your explanation. I just. I like the sorry. So that's what I've learned how to do. And it's been fucking hard.

[Latrice Royale]

It's hard. It is hard. But he. We are definitely mirrors for each other and very much let each other know how we're coming across or be transparent in the moment when we know that we're not. Our best to say, I'm feeling this type of way. It has nothing to do with you. Get that out the way that is.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I found that to be really key. I don't know for everybody, but for me, that definitely, like, I can accept that you're in a bad mood, but if I think we're in a fight and you're in a bad mood, then, like, I'm double all of the things. And it's harder for me to be supportive if I think it's about me. If I'm the issue.

[Latrice Royale]

And we're quick to do that. We always think it's about us because, well, why else are you mad? Like, I'm the closest proximity to you. So.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, and especially on the road, like, we share a hotel room and literally the proximity becomes a thing. Yeah. So you gotta figure out your feelings fast.

[Nicole Byer]

Yes. And I've learned that if I'm in a bad mood, I have to say it's not about you. Because. Because he'll just assume. And then he was in a bad mood, like it was like a month or two ago. And I was like, he hates me. He's gonna break up with me.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Cause he's.

[Nicole Byer]

And then he was like, hey, are you. What? And I was like, nothing is just.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We would never catastrophize our personalities. Don't imagine things at all. We don't make up any stories. We have no imagination. Completely dull up here.

[Latrice Royale]

Right.

[Nicole Byer]

Making up a story.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Only one personality up here. Yeah. No, I can make them up with the best.

[Nicole Byer]

And how do you deal with it? How do you deal with it?

[Christopher Hamblin]

I don't know if I do or not. It's a case by case, day by day basis with a lot of help from my friends. Really, though, I've had. Well, we're both sensitive in our way. And I think that word gets such a bad rap. I think to a lot of people, when you say you're sensitive, it just means you get your feelings hurt easily. But actually, I'm Being sensitive to you and your needs. By being sensitive as well. I'm being sensitive to you and your needs. And I try to express that sensitivity that I want to my partner. I try to be sensitive to what he may be going through. And in a lot of cases, I'm maybe the only person that actually knows what he's going through that day. And so that's. I try to be that guy, and then when he's there for me, he's there for me too. But like you said, the travel and the. The projects do make us have to be very independent emotionally.

[Nicole Byer]

What's the most romantic thing you guys have done together or for each other?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Oh, well, I think one of the things I did early on that seemed pretty romantic. There's this YouTube video you can still find of Latrice on her birthday backstage.

[Latrice Royale]

At Drunk at Bill's Filling Station.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Bill's Filling Station in Fort Lauderdale. And they said, what do you want for your birthday, Latrice? And she said, I want some balloons and some drinks and some cake.

[Latrice Royale]

Simple.

[Christopher Hamblin]

When I traveled to Seattle.

[Latrice Royale]

Simple.

[Christopher Hamblin]

It's true. Simple. I traveled out of town to meet her at a gig in Seattle, and it wasn't her birthday, but she was coming in from Ireland from an out of the country. One of your first international gigs. And I had gone to the store in advance and I got some rainbow and heart balloons and a bottle of Sophia champagne and budget friendly.

[Latrice Royale]

Thank you.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But it was Ms. Sophia, so it felt appropriate. And I don't know if they're still in business, but I think they are called Cupcake Royale, which just seemed too coincidental to not get cake from Cupcake Royale. And that was all waiting for him at the hotel when he arrived along with me. And that was. I didn't realize then how romantic it was, but it just seemed like a fun thing to do. And cute and it.

[Latrice Royale]

Cute and thoughtful, right? So I was like, you heard it?

[Nicole Byer]

And you're like, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna make that happen.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Easy peasy.

[Latrice Royale]

And yeah, that's what made me take balloons and drink.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Is that all it takes?

[Latrice Royale]

I mean, it did for me. Cause we changed our notifications from it's complicated to we were dating. And so that happened that weekend in.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But then you hiring a professional chef for our anniversary was pretty.

[Latrice Royale]

I did order. I did hire a private chef to come in for our anniversary one year, couple years ago, as a matter of fact.

[Nicole Byer]

What they make, baby, that's how fat I am. I was like, that's romantic. But what they make what you eat.

[Latrice Royale]

Okay, so it was like, I don't know, four or five courses, but we started off with a salad. It was a delicious salad. I don't know what kind of.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I think it was like a watermelon, arugula, feta moment. Like a vinaigrette.

[Latrice Royale]

Homemade. All homemade dressing.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Not get you started. And then maybe it was like a tomato basil.

[Latrice Royale]

No, it was butternut squash.

[Nicole Byer]

Okay, that's not true.

[Latrice Royale]

With the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich to accompany it.

[Nicole Byer]

Okay.

[Latrice Royale]

So we had that for the second course. And then they brought out. She brought out our surf and turf. So we had steak with these huge, giant king prawns, garlic mashed potatoes, and. And I don't know whether. Broccolini. Broccolini, yeah.

[Nicole Byer]

Okay.

[Latrice Royale]

Okay.

[Christopher Hamblin]

This is sounding right.

[Latrice Royale]

And then for dessert.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You're pretty. Menu so far, you're in. Okay.

[Latrice Royale]

And then for dessert, she made us this double fudge brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel drizzle.

[Nicole Byer]

That's lovely, girl. You know, that's a good meal.

[Latrice Royale]

It's a good meal. And cheaper than it would have been in the restaurant.

[Nicole Byer]

And that's wild.

[Latrice Royale]

Wild. So I tipped her very well because I was like, baby, this would have cost me every bit of $700. And she knocked it out and cleaned.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Up and cleaned up and cleaned up.

[Latrice Royale]

She left my house.

[Nicole Byer]

That's lovely. Cleaner than when she came. Yes.

[Latrice Royale]

I felt hired again.

[Nicole Byer]

That's lovely.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, yeah.

[Christopher Hamblin]

We have a friend who says that all he expects of customer service is tell me it's your pleasure and shut the fuck up.

[Nicole Byer]

I agree. I agree. I agree.

[Latrice Royale]

Tell me it's your pleasure.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And she did. There was no complaint. She was so pleasant. It was really blessed.

[Nicole Byer]

I love that. Do you guys have any advice for single people out in the world?

[Latrice Royale]

It's hard out there.

[Nicole Byer]

Do you have advice hard, baby?

[Latrice Royale]

Because what I'm hearing is, like, it has, like, from the people who are, like, hopeless romantics, they are having the hardest time because people just want to be whores, and it's okay. But, like. And especially because, like, we're getting a lot of, like, discussion about the fact that we're interracial. That's a thing, too. And so I say, not to interrupt.

[Nicole Byer]

You, but how do you deal with that? How do you deal with people? Because I feel like on Twitter, people really like that. It was a whole discussion, like, talk about that. I can't even really participate in interracial relationships, I guess. Yeah, you really can.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I mean, you're the first thank you for actually asking that question and providing a space for me to say that. That there's an entire conversation about my marriage that I feel like I can't participate in.

[Nicole Byer]

Yeah, that is fucked up.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah, that is.

[Latrice Royale]

And visible. I have to say to them people, mind your business. Number one, I am in love with someone who is in love with me. I went with love. And if there was a black person who showed me the kind of love that this man sat here and showed me, then I would be all about it. But ain't nobody stepped to the plate. So if you step to the plate, then I'm gonna entertain that. I'm not gonna miss out on my blessing because he's white. That sounds stupid. You sound ridiculously stupid. And that's why you're single and miserable. Get yourself some self love and find you somebody who gonna love your rack broke down ass. Piss it up. I'm so over it. Like, it makes me angry that people have so many opinions about someone else's love. And like, because you don't have that, you could never find that because you're stuck on some kind of ideological. You know the word I'm trying to say?

[Nicole Byer]

Ideology.

[Latrice Royale]

Ideology.

[Christopher Hamblin]

There we go. Together.

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah, we got it together. Yeah. 25 cent word that you should date in your own race. And it's just ridiculous. So that aside, just go where love is and be happy and things. And that's what I chose to do. And yeah, here we are 13 years later, and I ain't going nowhere. He ain't going nowhere.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, we both also came to the table pretty fully developed. Like, I've been through a lot of things that aren't as public as what he went through. I've not been on a reality television show where I spilled. You know what I mean? But I had been through my things, and we were able to deal with each other's things. But if you can't deal with your own thing, then you're not gonna be able to deal with somebody else's. I don't mean to just rephrase RuPaul and sound like I made something up, but, like, really, I still have to be in charge of me. He still has to be in charge of him. And then when we meet in the middle, it's beautiful and lovely, but, well.

[Latrice Royale]

One of the things I said when we was getting serious, I was just like, don't let our crazies intermingle. Like, we don't want no entanglement with your crazy and my crazy. Cause, baby, that's gonna Be disastrous. That's gonna be, baby. That's gonna be a whole lot of crazy. And my brother told him, you know, mental illness runs in our family.

[Nicole Byer]

That's wild. The sabotage, you know. You know, just so you know.

[Christopher Hamblin]

And same here. The DNA and DNA stops here. We are not passing this on. The cycle stops here.

[Nicole Byer]

Did you want to say something about being in an interracial relationship?

[Christopher Hamblin]

Well, I mean, I guess I don't.

[Nicole Byer]

Want to put you on the spot.

[Christopher Hamblin]

No, I don't feel on the spot, but I do feel like it's a nice start to the conversation. Just that I'd like to have the conversation. Like if there's going to be one about me, I'd like to be able to speak for myself and feel welcome in that conversation. I mean, you know, I really love this guy. And we're not always perfect. We go through things just like everybody else does. But at the end of the day, you know, I do feel like I've been there to support this black man when no one else was. So I don't really know what else I can give of the world in form of activism and social consciousness than that. So, you know, I'm doing my best and I hope it works is all I can say, really.

[Latrice Royale]

It's the allegation or theory that we're successful because we have proximity to whiteness. And if anything, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard because, number one, I was on the show before I met him. So that has nothing to do with my thing he has now. I will not, you know, say that he did not help elevate and enhance.

[Christopher Hamblin]

The same is true. Like, there are thousands and thousands of people that would have never. You would have never heard of me if I had not been playing piano for Latrice Royale. We wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation. So I'm acutely aware that most. A lot of people that know who I am or whatever reputation I may have is, you know, piggybacking off of her a lot. So, like, you know, I try to treat that with as much grace and respect as I can. And I'm mostly just grateful for.

[Latrice Royale]

People.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Like yourselves who show me friendship and invite me to the cookout. Cause I have a great time. Do you know what I mean? I don't bring the potato salad.

[Latrice Royale]

He's certified. He knows what to do.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I just bring the. I just bring the cups and the plates.

[Nicole Byer]

Bring in the cutlery plates.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I don't dj. I don't line step. I know what you know, but, you know, my in laws, the women in the family sort of sat down with me at one point and they didn't know exactly how to say, so how'd you get here? But they basically were like, so how'd you get here? And I just. I felt like I understood the level of otherness that Tim had. And I don't know why, but he agreed with me. So here we are, 13 years later.

[Nicole Byer]

I. I think what you said was very eloquent. I think it's nice that you're like, I acknowledge these things, but also in our love, race kind of has nothing to do with it at all. But I do acknowledge that there are racial implications and whatever, but, like, I just love this person. This person loves me. We work well together and that's that.

[Latrice Royale]

That's that.

[Nicole Byer]

Yeah.

[Latrice Royale]

Can't we just all just get along?

[Nicole Byer]

Can't we all just get along, please?

[Christopher Hamblin]

It'd be great.

[Nicole Byer]

I just think. Yeah, I think it's. To have any sort of, like, discussion about somebody's relationship, that's crazy to me. Without them getting to say something. I don't know. It's just weird. Why you see this?

[Latrice Royale]

I don't even know why it's up for discussion. Because it's none of your business. Like, what is that?

[Nicole Byer]

I don't know.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Especially when you're just lining up what I see to just be coincidences. Like, none of our relationships from within the drag race franchise have anything to do with each other. Other?

[Latrice Royale]

Yeah.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Like, I don't even know some of the people that were involved in the rest of the discussion. Like, you know, that's also a fun thing.

[Nicole Byer]

It's like all of them get great.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But somehow I've been lumped into this pattern that I was not aware of at all.

[Nicole Byer]

Well.

[Latrice Royale]

C' est la vie.

[Nicole Byer]

Say, what does that mean? C' est la vie. That's life. Look at me knowing you are so multilingual. Well, we have reached the end. I do ask all my guests this. Would you date me?

[Latrice Royale]

Oh, 100%.

[Christopher Hamblin]

You know that you're. I thought we were like. I thought that we were already.

[Nicole Byer]

I thought we were a thread boy.

[Christopher Hamblin]

I thought this was established, right.

[Nicole Byer]

You wanna promote the dates of why Gotta Be Christmas.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh.

[Nicole Byer]

Oh, no. Why Gotta be why Christmas? That one.

[Latrice Royale]

Why Gotta be White Christmas.

[Nicole Byer]

That one.

[Christopher Hamblin]

That one. Yeah. We've got two more dates left here. Three more dates left here in California.

[Latrice Royale]

By the time this air. We're gonna have one more date left.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Yeah. So. But it's sold out.

[Latrice Royale]

It's Sold out, Which is wonderful.

[Nicole Byer]

Can't go.

[Christopher Hamblin]

But we're going back to Knoxville, Tennessee, to see my people. I'm really excited to see them at the Bijou Theater on December 18th. And then we're gonna make our way up to the cold north of Provincetown for a weekend of shows there, and then New Year's Eve fantasy ball there as well.

[Nicole Byer]

That's fun. And then the dates in Provincetown are December 26th through the 20th.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Correct.

[Nicole Byer]

And if you like this episode of why won't you date me? You could like it, you could rate it. You subscribe, you can give me five stars on Apple Podcasts. Write me something nice. Hitting on me to why won't you date me? Podcastmail.com and Mars will read it, and then she'll print it out for me, and then I'll read it and listen. Y' all have been doing a very good job at keeping it short.

[Latrice Royale]

Oh.

[Nicole Byer]

Because that was a request I had. Oh, okay. This person writes. Nicole, I want to use you as my stocking this year. I want to nail you on my mantle. Oh, I'm Jesus. Line up a row of men with the most spectacular dicks and fill you up with them, stretching you open wide. I will cram so many packages inside you that you'll be bursting. I want to leave you overflowing and dripping onto the fireplace. Happy holidays from David. Sorry, I'm gay. Hope you liked it.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Damn.

[Nicole Byer]

David was like, I can't even fathom what to do with a woman. I'll nail her to the mantle and fill her up with presents.

[Christopher Hamblin]

Sounds like it came out on one of those British tabloids about, like, these groups that they're. Oh, my God.

[Latrice Royale]

So call me.

[Nicole Byer]

Bye. That was a headgum podcast. Hi, I'm Nicole Byer. Hi, I'm Sasheer Zamada, and this is the podcast Best Friends. And we're here at Headgun. So this is just a podcast where we just talk? Yeah, we're best friends. We talk, and then we have a segment where we answer questions and queries so audience members can ask questions about friendships and we can answer them to the best of our abilities. Yes, we are professional friends. We are professional friends. Subscribe to Best Friends on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Cast, or wherever you get your podcast. And watch videos on YouTube, too. New episodes drop every Wednesday. That's the middle of a work week. I was deeply unhelpful to you during that whole thing. You were. I'm really sorry. Felt the support. I was so. Okay. I was trying to be supportive. Yeah, but I was like, I don't know. Reading seems pretty hard right now. It's a lot. I think you did good. Thank you so much. You're welcome. With stays under $250 a night, VRBO makes it easy to celebrate sweater weather. You could book a cabin stay with leaf views for days. Or a brownstone in a city where festivals are just a walk away. Or a lakeside home with a fire pit for cozy nights with friends. Or if you're not a sweater person, we can call it corduroy weather. More flexible. And with stays under $250 a night, you can book a home that suits your exact needs. Book [e-mail].