Matthew D. Sanderson, (born June 3, 1985) better known by the stage name Detox Icunt or simply Detox, is an American
drag performer and recording artist. Detox was a fixture of the
Southern California
Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most po ...
drag scene before coming to international attention on the
fifth season of ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, VH1 (season 9–14) and, beginning with the f ...
''.
Career
Detox has appeared in music videos with
Ke$ha
Kesha Rose Sebert (; born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to Kemosabe Records. Her first major success came in early 2009 after she was featured on America ...
and
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the ...
and is a member of
Chad Michaels
Chad Michael Storbeck, known professionally as Chad Michaels (born March 20, 1971), is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was the runner-up of the fourth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'', alongside Phi Phi O'Hara, ...
' Dreamgirls Revue, the longest-running female-impersonation show in California. She is also a member of the band Tranzkuntinental. The band was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith and features drag queens
Kelly Mantle
Kelly Leroy Mantle (born July 9, 1976), is an American actor, singer-songwriter, comedian, musician, drag queen, and reality television personality. Mantle appeared as a contestant on the sixth season of the reality TV show ''RuPaul's Drag Race ...
,
Rhea Litré,
Vicky Vox, and
Willam Belli
Willam Belli (, born June 30, 1982), mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of ''R ...
.
Detox modeled as part of the
Tranimal Tranimal is a drag and performance art movement that began in the mid 2000s in Los Angeles. Deriving from the word "transvestite", the aim was to create interpretive, animalistic and post-modern interpretations of the "drag queen".
Origin
The t ...
Master Class Workshop at the
Machine Project
Machine Project was a Los Angeles based not-for-profit arts organization and community event space.
History
Founded by Mark Allen, Machine Project launched in 2003 with its inaugural show, ‘Tom Jennings - Story Teller,’ an installation produ ...
. The event was photographed by
Austin Young
Austin Young (born April 12, 1966) is an American photographer, film maker and new media artist based in Los Angeles, known for both celebrity portraits and documentation of sub and trans culture. Young is co-founder of Fallen Fruit, an art c ...
.
In 2011, Detox acted in ''Showgirls in Drag'', a live adaptation of ''
Showgirls
''Showgirls'' is a 1995 erotic drama pulp noir film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. The film stars Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Alan Rachins, and Gina Ravera.
Produced ...
''. The production was directed by
Stephen Guarino
Stephen Guarino (born November 14, 1975) is an American actor and comedian, known as Sully Patterson on the Jim Carrey-produced Showtime series ''I'm Dying Up Here'' (2017–2018) and for his recurring role as Derrick in the ABC comedy series '' H ...
and played at the Dragonfly nightclub in Hollywood.
In March 2012,
Willam Belli
Willam Belli (, born June 30, 1982), mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of ''R ...
released "
Chow Down
"Chow Down (at Chick-fil-A)" is a song by American singer and drag queen Willam Belli, featuring Detox and Vicky Vox (known collectively as DWV). The song was released on March 18, 2012, following Willam's elimination from the fourth season of ...
," a parody of "
Hold On
Hold On may refer to:
Music Albums and EPs
* ''Hold On!'' (album), by Herman's Hermits, 1966
* ''Hold On'' (Trapeze album), or the title song, 1978
* ''Hold On'' (High Inergy album), 1980
* ''Hold On'' (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album), 1987
* ...
" by
Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips is an American pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The group consists of Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of th ...
. The song featured Detox and Vicky Vox, who co-wrote the parody's lyrics. The three began performing under the name
DWV, a dual reference that takes note of their first initials (Detox, Willam and Vicky) while also parodying the group
SWV
SWV (Sisters with Voices) is an American R&B vocal trio from New York City whose members are Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) Johnson, and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons. Formed in 1988 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B g ...
. Together they released several other singles: "Boy is a Bottom," a parody of "
Girl on Fire" by
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...
which debuted at number six on ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''s Comedy Digital Songs, selling 3,000 downloads in its first week.; "Silicone", a parody of "
Dancing on My Own
"Dancing On My Own" is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn, released on 20 April 2010 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, ''Body Talk Pt. 1'' (2010), the first in her ''Body Talk'' series. "Dancing On My Own" was produced by ...
" by
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12 June 1979), known as Robyn (), is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, record producer, and DJ. She arrived on the music scene with her 1995 debut album, ''Robyn Is Here'', which produced two Billboard Hot 100, ''Bil ...
; and "Blurred Bynes", a parody of "
Blurred Lines
"Blurred Lines" is a song by American singer Robin Thicke featuring American rappers T.I. and Pharrell Williams from the former's sixth studio album of the same name (2013). Solely produced by Williams, it was released as the album's lead si ...
" by
Robin Thicke
Robin Alan Thicke (born March 10, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his 2013 hit single " Blurred Lines", which is one of the best-selling singles of all time. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, h ...
.
In November 2012,
Logo
A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name it represents as in a wordma ...
announced that Detox was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the
fifth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Detox won the children's TV show-themed main challenge in the episode "Draggle Rock." As part of the show, Detox sang on the "
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album ''We Are the World''. Wit ...
"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?", with the song's proceeds benefiting the
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
The Los Angeles LGBT Center (previously known as the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center) is a provider of programs and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The organization's work spans four categories, including health, soc ...
. Detox placed fourth in the competition, becoming the last queen eliminated before the finale episode.
In June 2016, Detox was announced as one of the cast members on the second season of
''RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race''. She ultimately finished as a runner up in the competition alongside
Katya
Katya is a feminine given name. It is a very popular name in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, and North Macedonia. It is a Russian diminutive form of Yekaterina, which is a Russian form of Katherine.This name is also can be spelled Katia.MFnames ...
.
In 2017, Detox appeared in the film ''Cherry Pop'', directed by Assaad Yacoub, alongside fellow ''Drag Race'' alumni
Tempest DuJour
Tempest DuJour is the stage name of Patrick Lee Holt, an American drag performer most known for competing on season 7 of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Holt is also an associate professor at the University of Arizona.
Career
Tempest DuJour has performe ...
,
Mayhem Miller and
Bob the Drag Queen
Christopher D. Caldwell, better known as Bob the Drag Queen and Caldwell Tidicue, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, activist, musician, and reality television personality. He is best known for winning the eighth season of ''RuPaul's D ...
.
In April 2019,
Lizzo
Melissa Viviane Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), known professionally as Lizzo, is an American singer, rapper, and flutist. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she moved to Houston, Houston, Texas with her family when she was 10 years old. After col ...
released a second music video for her song "
Juice
Juice is a drink made from the extraction or Cold-pressed juice, pressing of the natural liquid contained in fruit and vegetables. It can also refer to liquids that are flavored with concentrate or other biological food sources, such as meat ...
", in which Detox makes an appearance.
In June 2019, a panel of judges from ''
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
'' magazine placed her 14th on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former ''Drag Race'' contestants.
She was one of 37 queens to appear on the cover.
Discography
Singles
Other appearances
Filmography
Television
Web series
Film
Music video appearances
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Living people
American drag queens
American gay actors
American gay musicians
LGBT people from Florida
LGBT singers from the United States
RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
1985 births
Detox Icunt
Matthew D. Sanderson, (born June 3, 1985) better known by the stage name Detox Icunt or simply Detox, is an American drag performer and recording artist. Detox was a fixture of the Southern California drag scene before coming to international at ...
20th-century LGBT people
21st-century LGBT people