Drag Star Pixie Polite Attacked in Hate Crime: A Wake-Up Call We Shouldn’t Need

Pixie Polite competed in series four of RuPaul's drag race. Photo: BBC

Drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alum Pixie Polite was assaulted in a Tesco in London last week (28 July) and left hospitalised. The incident is being treated as a homophobic hate crime by police.

Pixie, whose real name is Mark Wickens, said they were punched in the head and neck during the attack. It happened in public. In a supermarket. In 2025.

Let that sink in.

Pixie was targeted simply for existing as themselves. For being visibly queer. That’s all it took.

The news is shocking - but it shouldn't be surprising. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are rising. The numbers are climbing every year. Yet too many people still look the other way.

It shouldn’t take a drag queen being punched in Tesco for people to pay attention.

This kind of violence is not rare and it’s not isolated. It’s the product of rising hate, emboldened ignorance, and a media and political culture that often dehumanises queer lives.

Drag artists like Pixie are more than performers. They are symbols of joy, resistance, and identity. But to some, that makes them a target.

No one should be afraid to shop for groceries. No one should worry about being attacked because of who they are.

Pixie spoke out after the assault, sharing their experience to raise awareness. That takes courage. But it shouldn’t be on victims to educate the world after being harmed.

We all have a responsibility to push back. To call out casual homophobia. To challenge hateful rhetoric. To make sure these stories aren’t just viral headlines - they’re sparks for real change. 

The public response has been mostly supportive. That’s good. But solidarity after the fact isn’t enough. We need prevention, not just reaction.

Where are the stronger protections? Where is the outrage when hate crimes don’t make the news?

This attack is more than a news story. It’s a mirror. It shows what’s still broken in our society.

Pixie shouldn’t have to relive their trauma in interviews for people to care. The time to listen isn’t after the punches are thrown. It’s now.

Hate has no place here. Not in supermarkets. Not in the streets. Not anywhere.

We can, and must, do better.