“There are no safe spaces, people,” said RuPaul Charles to a captivated audience. Celebrating the release of his deeply personal memoir, “The House of Hidden Meanings,” the pop culture icon and international drag superstar charmed and invited his fans to a spiritual awakening at London’s Royal Festival Hall. RuPaul extended his manual for life, knitting together his philosophy with graphic anecdotes and sage advice. The event is a part of the Southbank Centre’s Literature and Spoken Word Spring Season, which runs from March to June 2024.

Love thyself

RuPaul explored the inherent nature of finding one’s tribe and the cathartic power of self-acceptance. The 63-year-old reminisced, “You know, I talked about finding your tribe, finding your people. I love the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and how symbolic that journey down the yellow brick road is… It’s about finding the people who will support you, remind you of who you really are, and lift you up.”

The television personality reflected on his own life, citing the humour of Monty Python as an inspiration for finding his own tribe. “They didn’t take life too seriously, which is so important… It’s important to not take life too seriously,” RuPaul said, drawing a parallel to his love for Bugs Bunny’s carefree attitude.

Embracing your inner child

The Drag Race creator also discussed making peace with his inner child, revealing a personal aspect of his life in the process, “On my phone, there’s a picture of me at five years old… It’s to remind me of whose sweet little heart I’m looking after.” He called on the audience to remember and care for their younger selves as a way to heal and grow.

RuPaul faced challenging times but managed to overcome them, eventually becoming sober. Growing up poor and queer in 1960s San Diego, he recounted, “I started using smoking weed at ten years old… It took a twelve-step programme and facing that kid on my phone to start processing those feelings I’d squished down for years.”

He described a childhood of unhappiness with absent and distant parents, bringing up a story about waiting for his father with his little sister on the steps and wondering if he would ever show up. “It was always trauma at my mother and father’s house. They were always at each other. So I disassociated,” he explained, adding, “My father was a ghost. He really didn’t exist…Same with my mother. My mother was world-weary, and I thought my job was to lift her up.”

Read: Top nonfiction books 2024: what to watch out for this year – including RuPaul’s memoir

In a candid reflection on contemporary culture, the Emmy Award-winning star declared, “There are no safe spaces, people… You have to look out for yourself.” He challenges his audience to take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and happiness, stressing the importance of self-care over seeking external validation or safety.

In his memoir and speech, RuPaul repeatedly spoke about love, forgiveness, and how changing the way we think about our past can make a big difference. “Allowing myself to be loved by someone… was not a natural thing for me,” he admits, acknowledging the journey to accept love and to forgive both his parents for their shortcomings.

A call to mindfulness and gratitude

The multi-hyphenate artist’s spiritual practice includes prayer and meditation, which helps him cultivate mindfulness and gratitude daily. “Every morning… I acknowledge that there is a power greater than myself,” he shares, revealing a simple yet profound approach. He left the audience with the words: “Everything is about a balance in life, you know?”

Ahead of the festival, Southbank Centre’s head of literature and spoken word, Ted Hodgkinson, said: “From Salman Rushdie to RuPaul, Kazuo Ishiguro to Maggie Nelson, this is a season brimming with must-see moments, shedding new light on iconic cultural figures and, in turn, the world around us.

“This programme offers unique events interweaving spoken word and music, alongside talks illuminating the historical underpinnings of the present and uplifting storytelling about experiences which are often underrepresented in literature,” he added.

Hero image credit: Courtesy of RuPaul

You can watch Salman Rushdie live for free here between April 21st and⁠ Apr 28th from 2.30pm. He will share his survival story and talk about his new book “Knife” via the Southbank Centre’s livestream page.