Culture

A Reminder That Coco Jumbo Once Beat Up A Homophobe In Full Drag

She is a whole icon!

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Before slaying on Drag Race Down Under, Coco Jumbo won our hearts when she and two other queens defended a man from a violent homophobic attack in Sydney.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the most iconic incident, allow me to refresh. Back in 2017, Ivan Flinn was walking home from the pub when a group of men began shouting homophobic slurs at him.

“There were heaps,” he told news.com.au, “all the slurs you can possibly imagine.” When Flinn told the men to stop using those words, it didn’t go down well.

According to Flinn, this comment prompted one of the men to attack him, ripping his shirt and punching him in the face, dislocating his jaw. His prayers for safety were answered by three drag queens. None other than Coco Jumbo, and her friends, Ivy Leaguee and Vybe.

Stepping out after performing on the stages in Sydney’s neighbourhood of Darlinghurst, the trio were still in full drag, but they immediately came to Finn’s aid. Ivy said she saw Flinn get punched and she wasn’t having it.

“I said, ‘you want to pick on little guys, you’ll need to fight the big freak….I may be gay but I’m a man and if you’ll hit me I’ll hit you back,” she said.

“I don’t think they knew what they were getting themselves into. I used to play rugby league. Plus I have an older brother,” Coco Jumbo said. At the time, Coco had one very simple message for homophobes following the incident.  “Don’t mess with gay people,” she said. “Let alone two men dressed as women. Silly boys.”

Thankfully, Flinn was okay. The incident was investigated by NSW Police.

Coco Jumbo has been a fan favourite in the premiere season of Drag Race Down Under. Drag Race Down Under is exclusively streaming on Stan every Friday.