Bravery, Brilliance and RuPaul Charles | On the Spot | TED

Hello, darlings.

Now we're going to do a new format here, which is "On the Spot," I'm told,

it's "On the Spot."

And I will be answering a series of questions.

So we'll see how this goes, alright?

Let's start with our first question.

And again, I have 10 minutes.

So we'll see, I bet I can do it faster than 10 minutes.

Define bravery.

Define bravery.

I think bravery is the ability to follow your bliss

and make no excuses for that, alright?

Define brilliance.

I think allowing yourself to be a vessel, a channel,

so that the source can work through you, and you align yourself with that source.

I think that's brilliance.

(Applause)

What's the power of drag?

Now the power of drag,

it's like the Superman suit to Clark Kent.

It allows you to expand your idea of who you are, of what you are.

And it's a very simple trick, and it works.

I recommend everybody try it, tonight.

(Laughter)

What's the best way to slay?

Know thyself, be thyself.

You are the best version of you, so you can slay that way.

I get a round of applause for that.

Thank you, over here.

What's the first thing you notice about someone?

I notice their aura.

I can see, I can sense what they're about, what they want.

You know, for years, I learned how to sort of shape-shift myself

into what I felt someone needed from me.

Listen, not the greatest thing in the world to do,

because you leave a little bit of yourself behind.

But it sure did teach me a lot

about reading someone's character, you know,

and my own character.

Alright.

What trait do you most value?

A sense of humor, people.

A sense of humor.

My favorite thing to do in the world is to laugh.

My favorite thing in the world to do is to laugh.

And I've done a lot of things.

But if you have a sense of humor.

Yeah, because I think if you have a sense of humor, you get it.

This is all an illusion, OK?

(Laughter)

Don't take any of it too seriously, alright?

What's the wisest way to be an adult?

Well, to be an adult,

you have to be able to keep your mouth closed.

Because there's a lot of things you want to say in situations,

but an adult knows better.

(Laughter)

You know, it's true.

It's true.

You can't say everything to everybody.

You really, just, you can't.

I wish we could.

I wish we could, but we can't.

If there's one thing you want AI to keep in mind, what is it?

I don't like that question.

(Laughter and applause)

Which of your dreams have not yet come true?

I would love to be able to put together a retail storyline

that is just as magnificent as Patagonia and Esprit

and all the things they've done.

I'd love to do that.

Maybe there's time.

Yeah, oh, hi.

(Laughter)

What's the best way to say goodbye?

I really don't like saying goodbye.

I never have.

But I've learned to be in the moment

and to actually acknowledge someone

and the time that we spent together.

I've learned how to to sit in that.

I think I was always too sensitive, so I never liked to say goodbye.

So the best way to say goodbye

is to do it deliberately and to acknowledge that,

you know, this could be the last time I ever see you.

So, you know, I'm going to acknowledge that and stay in the moment.

Oh.

[Thank you for being on the spot, RuPaul!]

(Applause and cheers)

That's great.

That's fantastic.

Come on up here.

That was going to be 10 minutes,

and I have four minutes and 37 seconds left.

Helen Walters: You want to chat?

RC: You want to?

HW: Shall we? RC: Let's do it.

HW: OK, who has a question for RuPaul?

RC: Oh, I thought you were going to chat with me.

Questions from the audience?

HW: Why not?

RC: Well, I'll tell you why not.

(Laughter)

I don't think in all the years I've taken questions from the audience,

mostly people like to make comments.

HW: That's true.

RC: And we don't really want comments.

HW: No, that's true, that's true.

RC: Maybe you and I should come up with a few questions to ask me.

HW: What would you like to tell everyone?

RC: OK, alright.

RuPaul, what is the best piece of advice you've ever gotten?

HW: That's a good question.

RC: Thank you.

(Laughter)

My 10th grade teacher, Mr. Parnell in Atlanta, Georgia.

He said, "RuPaul," my real name.

"Do not take life too seriously."

The emphasis on "too."

He actually used some dirty language in there,

and you can fill in the blanks where he put it.

HW: You could also swear on this stage, it's fine.

RC: No, no, darling, there may be Christian children here, darling.

HW: There are none, I can guarantee it.

(Laughter)

RC: But no, it was the best advice at the time.

I was in 10th grade.

You know, I flunked the 10th grade.

I repeated the 10th grade,

and then I dropped out in the 11th grade.

But of all the time I spent in school,

that was the most valuable lesson I ever learned.

And as the years went on,

it became more and more valuable.

Because ... it's like we are actors on a stage.

And it's as if the actors believe, say, "Twelfth Night,"

some Shakespeare thing.

The actors actually believe

they are the characters they're playing, you know.

And drag and laughter and all those things

shake it up to say, "Hey, kiddo,

you know, you're only playing a role.

This show will close.

And we're going to go on to another show and another show

and another show, and it's going to be fabulous."

HW: Yes, it sure is.

RC: So don't get too invested in "Twelfth Night," darling.

HW: So RuPaul?

RuPaul is your real name.

Why did your mom call you RuPaul?

RC: Well, you know, listen, I will answer that question.

I just want to say, if there are any people who want to get into show business,

do not use your real name.

It's my real name because it ends up on all of your public papers

and all that stuff.

And you know, you're at the gynecologist or in the dentist chair

and they know all your business, you know.

But my mother,

my mother saw a psychic when she was pregnant with me.

And the psychic said, "You're going to have a boy,

and he's going to be famous."

So my mother thought, "You know,

I'm going to name him RuPaul Andre Charles,

because ain't another MF in the world with that name."

(Laughter)

Yeah, my real name.

People call me Ru, though.

HW: Who is your favorite person on the planet?

RC: My best friend, who I happen to be married to.

His name is Georges LeBar, and he's so lovely and kind.

I think the greatest attribute that humans can have is kindness.

That's number one, number two is a fat ass.

(Laughter)

But and he's got both.

He's Australian.

He's absolutely lovely.

He's lovely.

(Laughter)

HW: OK, we have 45 seconds, I'm not stopping.

What's your favorite thing about television?

RC: Oh my gosh, I learned everything I know from television,

I love it.

I'm watching a show called "Murder, She Wrote" right now.

It's about 45 years old, and I can't get enough of it.

I can't get enough of it, I love it.

Murder, she sat down and she wrote.

(Laughter)

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, it has been so much fun.

HW: Thank you, Ru.

RC: Thank you so much. Give love to somebody.

(Applause and cheers)