Pearl's feud with RuPaul actually began while Season 7 was filming. According to Cheat Sheet, one episode of the season saw Pearl and RuPaul in a short stare down. At this point, many viewers thought Pearl appeared uninterested in the competition. This prompted the stare, with RuPaul trying to gain some insight into Pearl's headspace. Pearl, then, said, "Do I have something on my face?" This sassy remark landed Pearl immediately on RuPaul's bad side, and fans were reportedly split on this remark when the episode aired in 2015.

Then, in 2018, Pearl spoke out more about the series and what she experienced while filming Season 7. Of note is another experience with RuPaul in which Pearl believes she was dismissed by the host. According to Gay Times, Pearl appeared on the show "Hey Qween" and accused RuPaul of allegedly less than friendly as the host appears to fans at home. 

"I turned to RuPaul and said, 'Oh my god, thank you so much. It's such a honor to be here, such a pleasure to meet you, you have no idea.' Just giving her everything I ever wanted to say to her," Pearl recalled. "She turned to me and she said, 'Nothing you say matters unless that camera is rolling.'" 

Pearl explained that she "idolized" RuPaul and that the reaction was "disrespectful." "That broke my spirit," Pearl confessed, "and that is the reason why I had one foot in and foot out the entire time I was on that show."