'The Price is Right' RuPaul special slammed for $100k donation to Planned Parenthood: 'They celebrate deaths'
CBS’ primetime special 'The Price is Right At Night' sparked a major backlash on social media after its decision to donate close to $100,000 to Planned Parenthood.
Monday evening's episode of the longest-running game show in television history, hosted by Drew Carey, saw Emmy-winning host of 'RuPaul’s Drag Race,' RuPaul, make a surprise appearance. The famous drag queen was there to advocate for Planned Parenthood, with the show promising to match all the contestants' prize winnings with a donation to the reproductive healthcare organization, Fox News reports.
The special saw contestants win big sums — totaling a whopping $97,266 in prize money — which meant the same amount would now be donated as charity to the organization.
However, the reaction of viewers to RuPaul's choice of charity was rather divided, with many taking to Twitter to voice their outrage over the cash gift.
"I went to watch the price is rights night time special with RuPaul...but...his charity was planned parenthood. They lost this viewer. #TRUMP2020," one user tweeted.
"The Price is Right at Night is raising money for the 'charity' Planned Parenthood. Are you kidding me??? Wow... #whatisthisworldcomingto," another viewer wrote.
"Tell me I’m wrong but The Price is Right is a disgrace. They raised $97,000+ for Planned Parenthood with their evening show tonight. How many lives will be lost because of this? They celebrate the deaths," a third viewer added.
That said, there were several viewers who applauded RuPaul's advocacy and supported the "Price is Right" donation.
"Legend @RuPaul is on The Price is Right playing for matched donations to @PPFA #PlannedParenthood, because that's what heroes do," one viewer tweeted.
"RuPaul is the special guest on primetime Price is Right right now, playing to benefit Planned Parenthood and I forgot how great this game show is," another wrote.
"@RuPaul playing the price is right to win money for planned parenthood is just... wow. yes. amazing," a third user wrote.
"Ru Paul on the Price is Right playing for Planned Parenthood is a mood," a fourth comment read wrote.
"Watching RuPaul on The Price is Right special tonight. They’re going to match whatever the contestants win and donate it to the charity of Ru’s choice and it’s Planned Parenthood. Middle America is freaking out," another chimed in.
RuPaul has been an abortion activist for decades.
In a conversation with Marie Claire in 2017, he revealed that his mother used to work for Planned Parenthood. That year, he also organized a fundraiser for the abortion chain.
"Women in our culture have been so marginalized and so really beaten down," he told the magazine. "We live in a masculine-dominated culture. How dare some man tell a woman what to do with her body. That is outrageous! Outrageous. As a human, that is a big issue for me that really strikes a chord."
CBS has been airing 'The Price is Right' since September 4, 1972. Bob Barker hosted the popular game show for 35 years before retiring in 2007. That's when Carey stepped in to replace him.