'AJ and the Queen' canceled by Netflix after Season 1, upset fans threaten to cancel subscriptions
Netflix series 'AJ and the Queen' has been canceled after just one season by the streaming service according to the show's creator and star, RuPaul Charles. The comedy-drama series had debuted on Netflix in January 2020.
According to the synopsis for the show, 'AJ and the Queen' followed "Ruby Red, a bigger-than-life but down-on-her-luck drag queen who travels across America from club to club in a rundown 1990’s R/V with her unlikely sidekick AJ, a recently orphaned, tough-talking, scrappy ten-year-old stowaway. As the two misfits travel from city to city, Ruby’s message of love and acceptance winds up touching people and changing their lives for the better."
The cancelation news was announced by RuPaul through a tweet that said, "End of the road for “AJ and The Queen” @Netflix has decided to not extend our road trip across America. Thank you for all the love & support. We're so very proud of the work."
RuPaul wrote and executive produced the 10-episode series and played the lead role of Ruby Red. Michael Patrick King served as writer, showrunner and executive producer, alongside Jhoni Marchenko. King’s MPK Productions produced in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Upset fans took to Twitter to threaten to cancel their subscriptions to the streaming service. One fan tweeted, "Really, @netflix? Why did you [make] this terrible decision? AJ and the Queen is a great piece of work, educational and relevant to our society, and @RuPaul an excellent person and professional. I'm really sad [about] this. I will have to reconsider my subscription. @hulu waits for me!"
Fans lauded the LGBTQ+ representation on 'AJ and the Queen' and have asked for Netflix to renew the show. A fan wrote, "@netflix canceling AJ and the Queen is a huge mistake. LGBTQIA+ representation is already limited and now a show with huge potential gets the chop." Another tweeted, "HUGE mistake Netflix. AJ and the Queen is excellent writing, excellent acting, excellent Direction, and profoundly meaningful entertainment. You're passing on a one-of-a-kind Show told authentically. By a superstar. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG."