Hurtado appeared as Kameron Michaels’ ex on the show.
Bernardo SimCristian André Hurtado has passed away at 34 years of age, and his loved ones have set up a GoFundMe account to help with his memorial.
Drag Race fans will know Hurtado from his appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race: Vegas Revue. On the show, Hurtado was introduced as Kameron Michaels’ then-boyfriend and the couple was shown struggling with the long-distance aspect of their relationship.
Designer, content creator, and X-Rated: NYC star Boomer Banks was also extremely close to Hurtado and spoke to Out about his tragic passing. They knew each other for four years and, during that time period, developed an incredibly close relationship that transcended labels.
“I was his mom’s first call,” Banks explained. “We had a relationship that was never been romantic. We just met and became the closest, most intimate individuals. We just got each other and I automatically became his brother. His mom, I’ve been on the phone with her all week.”
Banks continued:
“He meant so much to so many people. His infectious smile will live on forever. We’re going to have a memorial for him on the 12th in Texas, where he’s from. His real brother is a huge part of the pageant drag community, and there are so many of the girls wanting to go see him. He made the world smile. His laugh… Jesus, his laugh will continue to echo in my head for the rest of my life.”
Banks also recalled an unexpected – but very special – Christmas gift that he received from Hurtado a few years ago.
“I was an orphan when I was 14. I lost my mother. And there’s a photo of my mother that he gifted me a couple of Christmases ago,” he recalled. “He was like, ‘You don’t have a photo of your mom.’ And I have to tell you that this was the most beautiful gift that I’ve ever received from someone. He knew that my relationship with her was not there. She was an alcoholic and died of the disease of alcoholism, so it was a rough relationship. But he always wanted me to be in touch with who I was. He was just the biggest light.”
Hurtado himself had the best relationship with his own mother, Banks also noted. “I want people to know that his relationship with his mother… that was his best friend. They spoke on a daily basis. He loved his mother so much. So, when she called me… I have to tell you, I don’t wish this on the worst person in the entire world. To hear a mother calling you, telling you, in disbelief, that her son is gone.”
Banks added:
“He knew that I would show up for her. So she knew to call me to figure things out. Even though this is a f*cked up way to bond, his mother and I have each other’s backs right now. We’ve just been sending photos back and forth and talking. He used to tell me, ‘You’re just like my mom.’ I think that’s why we bonded so much.”
You can support Cristian André Hurtado’s loved ones by contributing to his GoFundMe page.
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0GoFundMe Started For Late RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue Star André Hurtado
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