Nymphia Wind has addressed her recent meet-and-greet drama. 

On 16 August, the season 16 winner caused a stir among Drag Race enthusiasts after a video of her at a fan event circulated on social media.

In the brief clip, the drag performer can be seen looking at her phone before pausing and hugging a fan who was in line to be greeted.

Following the video’s release, a handful of Drag Race fans expressed their disappointment over the moment, resulting in Nymphia addressing the matter on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I just wanted to say my initial response when I reposted the video was not to apologize, is because I lived the whole hour and 30 mins of this meet and greet, and what you guys see is a 7-sec video,” she wrote.

“I understand it is very rude, but that was not the whole meet & greet, and I know I was not actively rude to anyone.

“So no, I am not releasing an official apology to everyone, just to the person who was in that video and to the few people who met me on my phone which. I would still raise my head and give two kisses and look them in the eye.”

In an additional tweet, the 29-year-old talent gave further insight into the meet-and-greet setting, stating that there was a lot of wait time during the event, especially in regards to a group meet-and-greet.

“I simply took the opportunity to respond to some work messages,” she added.

In response to Nymphia’s statement, fans flocked to her mentions to share their various opinions on the matter.

One person wrote: “People blowing this whole situation out of proportion, we love you.”

To whom it may concern. pic.twitter.com/7arzoGJuRP

— Nymphia Wind 妮妃雅瘋 (@66wind99) August 16, 2024

Another X user tweeted: “Yikes, sometimes it’s better not to say anything.”

A third fan added: “I was there, she only used her phone with 3 ppl, she even said to one of them “Sorry, it’s work-related” and they said “don’t worry, Nymphia”, too much drama, honestly.”

“Your first scandal, you are going places,” a fourth user joked.

The controversy also garnered the attention of some of her Drag Race peers like Xunami Muse, who defended her season 16 in a tweet.

“Lemme tell you a story. I did a gig with Nymphia while the season was airing, we didn’t have to do a meet and greet, she looks at me and goes, you wanna do a meet and greet? They look like they wanna meet us, I said sure I’m down, she goes I wanna meet them,” she wrote.

“I get that that video isn’t a good look, but to be doing a whole like witch hunt based on 5 seconds is WILD to me. Newsflash! She’s not the monster y’all trying so hard to make her be.”

Lastly, Canada’s Drag Race host Brooke Lynn Hytes poked fun at the situation by uploading a similar video to her X profile alongside the caption: “Same same.”

Earlier this year, the banana activist and trailblazing Jane Goodall impersonator ‘Padam Padam’-ed her way to glory on Drag Race season 16, making history as the first East Asian champion of the OG franchise.

Nymphia’s triumph was widely celebrated by various alumni and stars –including Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue – and particularly those within her community who have been “hungry” to see an “Asian success story” on-screen.