This clown will either turn your frown upside down, or into a gaping (sexy) scream. Get your ringside seats for Lollygag!
Thotyssey: Lollygag, hello! Happy May! Are you looking forward to a Spring season of Drag Clownery?
Lollygag: Hello hi hey! Happy May! I am I am looking forward to being in full clown face in the sun, lol. No, but I am genuinely excited to be a spring clown, yes!
Before we get into clowning and drag, I see you’re also a tattoo artist! What’s the origin of that, and is there a design that folks request from you the most?
Yes! I’m a tattoo artist, and I specialize in Ignorant Style Tattoos… which basically means I professionally doodle on people’s skin! I’m a mostly self-taught tattooer. I’ve been getting tattooed since I was 16. I got a job as a shop assistant in a tattoo shop in 2021; The boss didn’t want an apprentice, so when I finally got the itch to start tattooing people, I taught myself–in my bedroom, mostly.
A lot of people get “demon bb” tattoos from me. The demon bb is a little illustrated well… demon baby, lol. It’s a character I created when I first started tattooing. I was really committed to the idea of having a design I could draw over and over again that was simple, but easily recognizable. And so the demon bb was born!
Where did you grow up, and were art and performance always parts of your identity?
I grew up in Longwood Florida, I am unfortunately… a Florida man. And yes! I’ve been in dance classes since I was 2 years old, and did some theater in elementary school. But I mainly grew up doing competitive dance, and took it very seriously; it really was a huge part of my identity. My whole life was dance from age 2 to 22. I went to college for dance at Marymount Manhattan, and graduated with a BFA. I initially thought I would be in a dance company at this point in my life, but I’m genuinely so thankful that did not work out for me!
How did you discover the worlds of clowning and drag?
A full clown face was something I had always been drawn to, especially as I began to understand more about my identity as a trans queer person. But it wasn’t until I broke my foot in 2022 that I actually took the time to sit down and start playing with makeup and the inspiration of clowns. I made a lot of TikToks–at that time I only ever did my makeup for myself, to make videos. I only existed as a clown in my bedroom (and online).
In late 2023 I was introduced to drag and nightlife. I had no idea drag could exist in the way that it does, in Brooklyn specifically. I met God Complex when I was cast in “GodSpawn,” an all trans, dark wave, immersive dance theater / drag show. Through that process I also met my now boyfriend, Maxx Love. That experience and feeling deeply connected with the people involved allowed me to open up in a way I hadn’t been able to before. I started going to drag shows for the first time in my life, and I fell in love kind of instantly.
Clowns were originally known for being bringers of joy and laughter for centuries… but in the past 40-ish years they became better known as killers and demons in horror pop culture. Yet in just the past few years, joyful clowning has been making a comeback in Brooklyn! Do you attribute this cultural shift to anything specific… and what matter of clown do you prefer, silly or scary?
I think the world is fucked up and scary. There’s a lot of evil, dark shit happening every single day, and we’re in this weird simulation where we can view it so easily on a screen and at the same time be so removed from what we’re witnessing. People need clowns, people deserve to experience humor and joy. When life gets consistently heavy, humor is the only way a lot of us know how to cope. Clowns are powerful beings. Clowns have the ability to deliver intense emotions that affect people in ways they can’t always predict or comprehend. Clowns are able to reach behind the masks people wear everyday.
Do I prefer a silly or scary clown? I would say I prefer a silly clown who’s also scary… but in a hot way. Which is the world I feel that I live in.
These next few weeks will offer up many forums for your brand of scary sexy clownery! First up, you’re gonna be part of a Marvel-ous cast on May 16 for “The Aud Ball: Avengers Vs. X-Men” at 3 Dollar Bill! How amazing will this be, and which character will you be paying tribute to?
This is going to be amazing–doing themed shows as a clown is delightfully challenging. I’m going to be DJ (or Mark Sheppard from X-Men). He’s a very niche character who was only in the comics… no movie appearances. But he will be appearing for “The Aud Ball!”
Then the very next day you’ll be be at Rockella’s Brown Bear Studios for what looks like a performance art exhibition called “Jester.” What can you tell us about that?
Oh yes, I’m very excited for “Jester!” It’s going to be something slightly different from what I’ve been doing recently. “Jester” examines gender as a performance, featuring a variety of exclusively trans artists, presenting clown-related art! It’s going to be giving unconventional art gallery, full of clowns. I will be doing a durational performance in the space, primarily existing in a room that will depict a clown’s bedroom. There’s going to be a lot of cool trans clowns who love art… so if that’s your thing, please come!
Then on May 22nd, it’s a big night. Your BF Maxx Love’s top surgery benefit showcase will be at C’mon Everybody: “Deletus Teetus” (ha!) hosted by ShowPonii and I’m Baby, and featuring a large and talented cast including yourself!
Yes, I’m so fucking excited for “Deletus Teetus!” It’s going to be “Night of 1000 Maxx Loves” themed, so every cast member will be bringing a number that Maxx has either done before, or something they feel Maxx Love would do! All the proceeds will be going towards his recovery from the big chop, which is happening on June 4th!
And on May 24th you will be one of several “NOOBIEZ” joining Switch n’ Play on stage at Littlefield! Are you a big fan of them?
Yes! I am a huge fan of Switch n’ Play, I think everyone involved is incredible, and I am inspired by and admire them all as performers who have clearly been successfully performing for quite some time. [Sn’P producer] Miss Malice always shocks me with the amount of details that goes into everything she creates and produces–you can feel that every artist deeply believes in what they are creating, and it’s contagious. I am feeling really thankful to have the opportunity to perform in “NOOBIEZ,” and also really looking forward to performing with the other performers in the cast!
You’ve got some stuff in June as well!
On June 3rd I’ll be opening for Haute & Freddy at The Slipper Room–doing a clown number, of course. So I’m excited for that!
And this just in: on June 13th you’ll be tattooing the children during “Sissyfest 2025” at Rubulad, which will have an epic lineup of performers onstage!
Yes, I can’t wait to tattoo the children at “Sissyfest.” It’s going to be an insane lineup, and I hope I can send everyone home with a permanent doodle to celebrate!
Anything to add?
Free Palestine! Pay black, brown, and trans sex workers!
And lastly: What’s the most essential item in your clown drag bag?
Oh, easy… a rubber chicken. Preferably many rubber chickens.
Thanks, Lolly!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Lollygag’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram, YouTube, LinkTree and TikTok.
Thotyssey 