Shade has long been part of RuPaul's Drag Race, where contestants trade clever, cutting remarks as a form of competitive wit rather than outright insults. The show, which began in the United States in 2009, helped bring drag slang into mainstream conversation, and short reaction clips from its judging and workroom moments spread widely through memes and social video. This sound works because that context is instantly recognisable, even to viewers who have not seen the episode, and it still fits the fast, quotable style of modern reaction edits.