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DWV (group)
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DWV was an American pop group based in Los Angeles, consisting of drag queens Detox, Willam Belli, and Vicky Vox.[1] They found fame with the release of "Chow Down (at Chick-Fil-A)" in March 2012, a parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips, satirizing Chick-fil-A's controversial stance on gay marriage.[2] The single's music video went viral online.[3][4] They followed this up with the January 2013 release of "Boy Is a Bottom", a parody of the Alicia Keys song "Girl on Fire", which proved to be even more popular, amassing 25.8 million views on YouTube, as of 2022.[5][6][7]
Key Information
Between 2012 and 2014, DWV released seven singles together commercially, three of which charted on the Billboard Comedy Digital Songs chart.[8]
In June 2014, it was officially confirmed by all three members on social media platforms that the group had split.[9]
History
[edit]Drag Race beginnings
[edit]Willam Belli was a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered in 2012 while Detox was a contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered in January 2013. Vicky Vox has yet to make an appearance on Drag Race. The three queens began working together, releasing music, and touring as a group in 2012 following Willam's appearance on Drag Race.[10]
Viral success
[edit]In March 2012, DWV released their first collaborative single "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)" on Belli's personal YouTube channel.[2] The song, a parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips satirizing Chick-fil-A's controversial stance on gay marriage,[2] went viral online.[3][4]
In December 2012, DWV embarked on a 60-day world tour, promoting their singles throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and also in Dubai.[11][12]
In January 2013, following up on the success of their first single, DWV released another music video, this time for their single "Boy Is a Bottom", coinciding with the premiere of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, on which Detox was a contestant. The song is a parody of the Inferno version of Alicia Key's "Girl on Fire". The song features lyrics that satirize sex positions, specifically tops and bottoms during anal intercourse.[5][6] The song proved to be even more popular than their previous single, amassing 25 million views on YouTube, as of 2021.[7]
In May 2013, DWV released "Silicone", alongside the premiere of the reunion episode of the RuPaul's Drag Race season five.[13] Written by Willam Belli, the song is a parody of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own".[13] The single marked the singing debut of Detox, who usually rapped verses in the group's songs rather than singing them.[13] It also is the first to have been released officially under the DWV group name.[13]
In 2013, DWV became the faces of a limited edition selection of OCC Makeup Lip Tar and & Nail Lacquer packs.[14][15][16]
In September 2013, DWV released another single called "Blurred Bynes", a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines".[17] The song pokes fun at Amanda Bynes' new image on social media including her hair, new breast implants, and her infamous tweet to Drake.[18] On 10 December 2013, DWV released a Christmas single, "That Christmas Song", using many elements of TLC's All That.[19] On March 8, 2014, they released another single and music video called "Gaycation".[20]
Between 2012 and 2014, DWV released seven singles together commercially, three of which charted on the Billboard Comedy Digital Songs chart.[8]
Breakup
[edit]In June 2014, rumors circulated on social media platforms that the trio had broken up and all three members addressed the situation, confirming that they had chosen to part ways due to conflicts between them.[9] Belli tweeted that DWV had broken up because "it was just time", Vox stated that "it was fun for a while", and Detox lamented feeling "piegon-holed" by the group.[21] Belli subsequently posted that "DMV is dead" on Facebook and explained further in a response on Tumblr:
We never planned stuff really and we just don’t have anything coming up. We were just friends putting songs out who then turned into DWV. I would think of something and then we’d round up and do it (exception- Chow Down we all thought of and Gaycation was De’s idea but we all wrote). We no longer have time to make stuff happen like we once did. That’s the reality of it. I think when people paid us to be the supergroup DWV for their own products, the ending result video wasn’t as whoreganic and fun as what we were known for.The last two years have been a whirlwind of unexpectedness that I wouldn’t trade for anything but I am looking forward to dealing with one tranimal instead of three for a while professionally. It’s just less variables and I’m a creative despot.[9]
Members
[edit]Willam Belli (born June 30, 1982) is an American actor, drag queen, and singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, based in Los Angeles. She first gained fame for her recurring role as a transgender woman named Cherry Peck in Ryan Murphy's television series Nip/Tuck. Willam achieved further prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, but was disqualified in the "Frenemies" challenge episode, marking the show's first disqualification.[22] In 2018, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born. For her performance on the dark comedy web series EastSiders, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series.[23] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her ninth on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[24]
Matthew Sanderson (born June 3, 1985), known mononymously as Detox, is an American drag queen and recording artist from Orlando, based in California. Detox was a contestant on season five of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing fourth, and also competed on the second season of All Stars, placing as a runner-up. Detox has appeared in music videos with Ke$ha and Rihanna and is a member of Chad Michaels' Dreamgirls Revue, the longest-running female-impersonation show in California.[25] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her 14th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[24]
Vicky Vox is an American actor, drag queen, and singer-songwriter based in California. Vox is Detox's drag daughter. She is known for performing live instead of lip syncing.[26] In 2015, she played a supporting role in the 2015 feature film Magic Mike XXL.[26] She also has her own YouTube web series called The Vicky Vox Project,[27] and has performed on stage in a London production of Little Shop Of Horrors.[28]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Comedy Digital Songs[29] | |||
| 2012 | "Chow Down" (Willam Belli featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) | 12 | The Wreckoning |
| "Starfucker" (Willam Belli featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) | — | ||
| 2013 | "Boy Is a Bottom" | 6 | Non-album singles |
| "Silicone" | — | ||
| "Blurred Bynes" | 5 | ||
| "That Christmas Song" | — | ||
| 2014 | "Gaycation" | — |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Dwv: Shhh...It'S A Show!". Spincyclenyc.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Wong, Curtis (19 March 2012). "'Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A),' Wilson Phillips Drag Spoof, Parodies Fast Food Chain's 'Anti-Gay' Controversy (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ a b Kinser, Jeremy (20 March 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Willam Belli on Drag Queens Eating at Chick-Fil-A". The Advocate. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- ^ a b Soloman, Brian (20 March 2012). "Chick-fil-A Even If You're Gay? Three Drag Queens Lampoon Company In Music Video". Forbes. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- ^ a b Tungol, Jr (28 January 2013). "'Boy Is A Bottom' Music Video Parody From Drag Queens Of 'Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A)' (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ a b Tharrett, Matthew (27 May 2013). "Willam Belli, Detox, And Vicky Vox Shut Down The Life Ball With "Boy Is A Bottom"". Queerty. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Boy Is A Bottom". YouTube. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b "RuPaul Nets Highest Charting Album Ever, Plus A 'Drag Race' Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "DWV Confirms Breakup: "It Was Fun For a While"". Dragaholic.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: 20 Times The Real Cast Drama Happened Off-Screen". ScreenRant. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Willam Belli". Willam Belli. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "DWV: Shh...It's a Show!". Theatermania. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d "DWV Silicone Music Video | Detox | Willam Belli | Vicky Vox". homorazzi.com. 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "Detox, Willam And Vicky Fox Are The New Faces of OCC Makeup | Out Magazine". Out.com. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ Chris Spargo (28 April 2013). "Detox, Willam & Vicky Vox New Faces of OCC Makeup". NewNowNext. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "OCC Makeup Lip Tar & Nail Lacquer Duos featuring Willam, Detox, and Vicky Vox". Temptalia.com. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ Nichols, James (11 September 2013). "DWV, Draq Queen Trio Featuring Detox, Willam And Vicky Vox, Release 'Blurred Bynes" (VIDEO)". HuffPost. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Malec, Brett (11 September 2013). "Amanda Bynes Called Out by Drag Queens in Funny New "Blurred Lines" Music Video Parody". E Online. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "DWV Releases Music Video For Their Holiday Single 'That Christmas Song'". dragofficial.com. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ^ Nichols, James (11 March 2014). "GAYCATION!". HuffPost. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Tharrett, Matthew (18 June 2014). "Drag Group DWV Splits Amid Social Media Shade, Toss Each Other Under The Bus". Queerty. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Dommu, Rose (8 June 2018). "Willam Finally Spills the Tea On His Drag Race Disqualification". Out (magazine). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 47TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS" (PDF). theemmys.tv. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ a b "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment". New York. 10 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ "See Chad Michaels Perform with the Dreamgirls Revue!". World of Wonder. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
- ^ a b Podell, Michael (12 May 2016). "An Interview with Vicky Vox (She's an Entertainer, Bitch!)". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "21 questions with drag sensation Vicky Vox". Attitude. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Earp, Catherine (29 September 2019). "Drag superstar Vicky Vox talks returning to the stage for Zeus On The Loose". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (6 March 2014). "RuPaul Nets Highest Charting Album Ever, Plus A 'Drag Race' Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
DWV (group)
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Origins and Formation
DWV was formed in 2012 in Los Angeles as a pop trio consisting of drag performers Detox, Willam Belli, and Vicky Vox.[6] The group emerged casually among the three friends, who were already connected through the drag scene, with Vicky Vox serving as the drag protégé of Detox.[4][7] The formation followed Willam Belli's appearance on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired from January to April 2012, prompting the trio to collaborate on music videos and recordings.[4] Early activity included the release of a parody video on March 23, 2012, signaling the start of their joint creative output.[8] This informal assembly leveraged their individual experiences in drag performance to produce satirical content aimed at viral appeal on platforms like YouTube.[4]Early Success and Viral Breakthrough
DWV attained early prominence through their debut single "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)", released in March 2012 as the group's inaugural collaborative effort.[9] The track, co-written by Willam Belli, Detox, and Vicky Vox, parodied Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" while satirizing Chick-fil-A's financial support for organizations opposing same-sex marriage.[10][11] Directed by Michael Serrato, the music video premiered on Belli's YouTube channel on March 19, 2012, swiftly accumulating widespread viewership and propelling DWV into viral recognition within drag and online communities.[12][9] This breakthrough capitalized on Belli's recent visibility from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 and the timeliness of the song's social commentary amid ongoing debates over corporate stances on LGBT issues.[10] The single's success facilitated subsequent live performances, including road tours under the "Chow Down" moniker, and positioned DWV for expanded media exposure and additional releases later in 2012.[13] Digital distribution followed via platforms like iTunes in April 2012, broadening accessibility.[14]Decline and Dissolution
In mid-2014, DWV encountered escalating internal tensions that culminated in the group's dissolution. Rumors of a split surfaced in early June, prompted by cryptic social media exchanges among members, including Detox's Facebook post alluding to betrayal: "Bearded snakes on the grass will always bite you in the ass. There’s a reason so many people hate working with you…".[15] Willam Belli addressed speculation on Reddit, confirming the end while dismissing further drama, stating it was "pretty clear" and expressing indifference to public narratives.[15] The trio officially disbanded on June 14, 2014, as verified by booking agents and members' statements across platforms. Willam tweeted that the breakup occurred because "it was just time," attributing it to scheduling constraints, creative divergences, and the erosion of the group's spontaneous appeal once commercial obligations arose.[15] Vicky Vox echoed this sentiment on Twitter, noting "it was fun for a while," signaling an amicable yet definitive closure.[15] Detox later elaborated in a June 22, 2014, World of Wonder interview, framing the split amid personal conflicts without specifying irreparable rifts, though underlying frictions over collaboration and payments had reportedly strained dynamics.[5][15] Post-dissolution, no further collaborative releases occurred, marking the end of DWV's brief tenure despite their earlier viral traction. The acrimony highlighted challenges in sustaining ad-hoc drag supergroups amid diverging solo careers, with members pursuing individual projects thereafter.[15]Members
Detox
Detox, born Matthew Sanderson on June 3, 1985, in Orlando, Florida, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and television personality who co-founded the drag supergroup DWV in 2012 alongside Willam Belli and Vicky Vox.[16] Originally from the Florida club scene, where she began performing drag as a teenager, Detox relocated to Los Angeles and established herself in the West Hollywood drag circuit prior to national exposure.[17] As a key creative force in DWV, she contributed to the group's satirical web series V Nix (later rebranded) and music releases, including the 2012 parody track "Chow Down" and the viral 2013 single "Boy Is a Bottom," which amassed millions of views on YouTube and highlighted the trio's humor-infused take on pop music and drag culture.[18] Detox's involvement in DWV intersected with her participation in RuPaul's Drag Race, appearing on season 5 in 2013, where she placed fourth after notable challenges emphasizing her comedic timing and performance skills.[19] The group's activities waned amid internal conflicts by 2014, coinciding with Detox's return to Drag Race for All Stars season 2 in 2016, where she finished as runner-up, solidifying her status as a drag entertainer.[20] Vicky Vox, Detox's drag daughter, collaborated closely within DWV, with their mother-daughter dynamic influencing the group's familial presentation in performances and media.[21] Beyond DWV, Detox has pursued solo endeavors, releasing singles like "She's Gotta Habit" in 2017 and appearing in television projects such as Detox's Life Rehab.[22] On August 21, 2024, during a Drag PAC benefit performance in Chicago with Willam, Detox publicly stated "I'm trans now," marking a personal milestone shared onstage.[23][24] Her contributions to DWV emphasized high-energy performances and lyrical wit, helping propel the group to early internet fame before its informal dissolution due to reported interpersonal disputes.[25]Willam Belli
Willam Belli, born June 30, 1982, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American actor, drag performer, and recording artist who co-founded the drag pop trio DWV with Detox and Vicky Vox in 2012.[26] Prior to her drag prominence, Belli built an acting resume with appearances in approximately 90 films and television episodes, including a recurring role as Cherry Peck on the FX series Nip/Tuck from 2003 to 2010.[27] Belli also fronted the electroclash band Tranzkuntinental in the early 2000s. Belli competed on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2012, advancing to the eighth episode before disqualification for breaching production rules by sneaking her husband into the contestant hotel room on multiple occasions.[28] This marked the first disqualification in the show's history, with producers citing violations of sequester protocols designed to maintain competition integrity.[28] Post-elimination, Belli launched DWV as a collaborative project blending drag performance with satirical pop music. The group released "Boy Is a Bottom" on January 26, 2013, a parody of Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" that humorously explored bottoming in gay male sexual dynamics and amassed over 7 million YouTube views by May 2013.[29] [30] Belli contributed vocals, lyrics, and on-screen presence to the track's low-budget music video, which featured exaggerated drag aesthetics and viral dance moves. DWV followed with "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)", another parody critiquing fast food and consumerism, before the group disbanded in June 2014 amid personal disputes among members.[31] Belli's role emphasized irreverent humor and boundary-pushing content, helping DWV gain a cult following in drag and online communities.Vicky Vox
Vicky Vox is an American drag queen and performer based in California, recognized for her membership in the drag group DWV alongside Detox and Willam Belli.[7] As the drag daughter of Detox, she employs her natural voice in most performances.[7] Prior to fully committing to drag, Vox experienced bullying in her youth, which influenced her to channel emotions into stage work, stating, "I take all my extra emotions and leave them on the stage."[32] Vox entered drag after abandoning her band aspirations, debuting at a booked event in an Afro and muumuu, after which she maintained steady employment in the field.[32] In April 2013, she departed her prior band Tranzkuntinental to prioritize DWV activities, following a period of inactivity since Halloween 2012.[33] Within DWV, Vox contributed vocals to parody singles including "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)," "Boy Is a Bottom" released in January 2013, "Silicone," "Blurred Bynes," and "That Christmas Song."[33] [29] The group undertook a 60-day world tour starting December 2012 and performed at events such as White Party in 2013 and Life Ball in May 2013.[33] Following DWV's dissolution in 2014 amid internal disputes, Vox pursued solo endeavors, including a role in the film Magic Mike XXL (2015) and starring as Audrey II in a 2018 production of Little Shop of Horrors at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[34] [35] She also toured with the Divas of Drag and hosted Detox's Friday show at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood.[32]Music and Artistry
Musical Style
DWV's music is characterized by musical parody within a pop framework, emphasizing satirical reinterpretations of mainstream hits with exaggerated, campy elements tailored to drag aesthetics.[36] Their tracks often feature humorous, explicit lyrics drawn from gay subculture, delivered through layered vocals and electronic production that mimic yet subvert popular structures.[30] This approach aligns with the group's origins in drag performance, where audio tracks serve as vehicles for comedic timing and visual spectacle rather than standalone artistry.[4] Signature releases like "Boy Is a Bottom" (2013) parody Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire," transforming its balladry into an electropop anthem celebrating receptive roles in gay sex with direct, unfiltered phrasing such as "this hole needs filling."[37][38] Similarly, "Blurred Bynes" (2013) reworks Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" to lampoon actress Amanda Bynes' publicized breakdowns, incorporating hip-hop inflections and R&B hooks while amplifying controversy for shock value.[39] These adaptations prioritize irreverence over musical innovation, using synth-heavy beats and auto-tuned harmonies to evoke dance-club energy conducive to live drag shows.[40] The trio's sound draws from broader drag music traditions, blending parody with accessible pop tropes to achieve viral appeal on platforms like YouTube, where production values emphasize meme-worthy hooks over instrumental complexity.[41] Critics have noted the comedic intent distinguishes DWV from more earnest drag pop acts, positioning their output as novelty rather than genre-defining work, though it influenced subsequent satirical releases by RuPaul's Drag Race alumni.[42]Lyrical Themes and Content
DWV's lyrical content centers on satirical explorations of queer sexuality, drag aesthetics, and pop culture absurdities, often delivered through explicit, irreverent humor and parodies of mainstream hits. Their breakout track "Boy Is a Bottom," released on January 28, 2013, reworks Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" to focus on gay anal sex dynamics, vividly depicting the "bottom" archetype with references to preparatory rituals like Fleet enemas, hour-long gym sessions for glute enhancement, and insatiable preferences ("This boy is a bottom / He's a gutbucket bottom"). The lyrics amplify stereotypes of hyper-feminized, pleasure-seeking gay men, blending crudeness with rhythmic pop structure to mock performative masculinity and sexual roles within the LGBT community.[43] In "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)," the group confronts themes of societal stigma against cross-dressing and drag, juxtaposed with gluttonous indulgence at the fast-food chain amid its 2012 public backlash for executive donations opposing same-sex marriage. Lines such as "You might feel shame / We might cross dress but that's not what's to blame" defy moral judgments on gender nonconformity, while verses revel in fried chicken consumption as an act of defiant hedonism ("Chow down at Chick-fil-A / It's cheaper than therapy").[44] This track satirizes cultural boycotts and personal shame, using food as a metaphor for unapologetic excess in queer expression. Subsequent releases like "Silicone" (May 2013) delve into drag's reliance on artificial enhancements, with Detox emphasizing breast implants and body modification ("All that silicone / In my titties, honey").[45] "Blurred Bynes" (September 2013), a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," shifts to celebrity advocacy, defending Amanda Bynes' erratic behavior against media sensationalism with lines urging restraint ("It's blurred Bynes / So back off, haters").[39] Across their output, DWV employs shock tactics, profanity, and celebrity cameos to critique hypocrisy in sexual norms, beauty standards, and fame, prioritizing campy provocation over narrative depth.[46]Discography
Singles and Releases
DWV released seven digital singles between 2012 and 2014, focusing on comedic parodies with explicit, satirical lyrics targeting pop culture, celebrity scandals, and LGBTQ+ themes.[6] The group produced no full-length albums, with releases distributed via platforms like iTunes and accompanied by low-budget music videos on YouTube. Three singles achieved commercial success, charting on the Billboard Comedy Digital Songs chart.[6] Their debut, "Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)", a parody of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" critiquing the fast-food chain's stance on same-sex marriage, appeared on Willam Belli's 2012 album The Wreckoning but featured the full DWV lineup.[6] The track gained early attention within drag communities. "Boy Is a Bottom", released January 26, 2013, became their breakthrough, amassing millions of YouTube views for its humorous take on sexual roles in gay culture.[47] Subsequent releases included "Silicone" on May 5, 2013, satirizing plastic surgery in drag; "Blurred Bynes" on September 9, 2013, mocking Amanda Bynes' publicized breakdowns via a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines"; "That Christmas Song" on November 26, 2013, a holiday-themed parody; and "Gaycation" on March 8, 2014, addressing vacation tropes in queer contexts.[48][49]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A) | Parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips |
| 2013 | Boy Is a Bottom | Viral hit; explicit gay anthem parody |
| 2013 | Silicone | Satire on cosmetic enhancements |
| 2013 | Blurred Bynes | Parody of "Blurred Lines"; celebrity roast |
| 2013 | That Christmas Song | Holiday parody |
| 2014 | Gaycation | Queer vacation-themed track |
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