Drag Queen on TVP: Is this the end of the public broadcaster's mission?

A drag queen character known by the stage name "Twoja Stara" appeared in TVP programs, which triggered a wave of protests from, among others, PiS politicians and the Coalition for the Salvation of the Polish School. The presence of this character became a major argument in the debate over the future of public television in the years 2024–2025. This event, which for some represented a manifestation of modern pluralism, became, in the eyes of critics, proof that the broadcaster had lost its statutory mission.

The genesis of the dispute: Poznań opens a new front

It all began on May 29, 2024, at a regional branch of the public broadcaster. The program "Rozmowa dnia" (Conversation of the Day) on TVP Poznań aired a segment titled "Drag queen: who is she?". The invitation to the studio of a character using the stage name "Twoja Stara" was intended, according to the creators, to introduce a performative phenomenon that is becoming increasingly present in popular culture. In reality, however, this decision became the spark for a conflict that dominated the discourse on state media over the following months.

The local nature of the broadcast did not limit its reach. As early as May 24, 2024, even before the actual broadcast, the Niezależna portal reported on the performance plans, suggesting that LGBT activists had been given their own program. This narrative set the tone for the future discussion. Critics did not evaluate the artistic craft or the substantive value of the interview, but focused on the very fact of allowing this character onto a channel funded by the license fee. For the conservative part of public opinion, this was crossing a line that a state institution should not violate.

The political dimension of the controversy

The reaction from the political world was almost immediate. As early as May 31, 2024, Law and Justice (PiS) politicians expressed firm opposition to the station's programming decisions. The matter quickly ceased to be the domain of pundits and became a weapon in the ongoing battle over the shape of TVP. Politicians accused the station's management of a lack of social sensitivity and of promoting content that, in their view, is contrary to the values of the majority of viewers.

A few days later, on June 4, 2024, the Coalition for the Salvation of the Polish School joined the debate. This organization, known for monitoring educational and media content for its compliance with the traditional model of upbringing, issued an official protest. It was argued that the presence of a drag queen in public media is a form of imposing a specific ideology on young viewers. From the organization's perspective, public television plays a formative role, and presenting characters that raise controversy in the moral sphere is contrary to this function.

This stage of the dispute was characteristic of the Polish media scene: the rapid mobilization of conservative circles around a specific symbol. "Twoja Stara" ceased to be a person and became a hallmark of a broader process that opponents of the current government called the "deconstruction of the public mission."

A year later: Escalation of demands

The passage of time did not calm the emotions. On the contrary, July 2025 brought a new opening in the discussion. On July 21, 2025, the Polish media space reacted to reports about the continuation of drag queen themes in TVP programs. Headlines in media such as "Do Rzeczy", "Fakt", or "Plejada" raised the question of liquidating public television. This is a significant turning point: a postulate that a year earlier seemed like merely a radical political opinion became, by mid-2025, a journalistic topic considered by major editorial offices.

The question of the legitimacy of TVP's existence in its current formula of state budget funding gained new weight. Opponents argued that if the broadcaster is unable to build a consensus around its schedule and stirs such extreme emotions, then its mission is impossible to fulfill in the conditions of a pluralistic society. In turn, supporters of the changes emphasized that television must reflect social diversity, including groups that have hitherto been marginalized in public media.

From the perspective of a viewer who does not engage in political disputes, this situation created a sense of chaos. Television, which should be a point of reference, became an arena of struggle in which every program is treated as a political manifesto. This state of affairs hinders a substantive assessment of the changes taking place in the broadcaster's structures.

The mechanics of social opposition

It is worth analyzing why this particular case became such a lasting element of the debate. In Polish culture, public television has for decades been treated as a common good, possessing a specific canon of values. Any attempt to modernize this canon, if not preceded by broad social consultations, meets with resistance. In the case of "Twoja Stara", there was a lack of an intermediate link that could have explained to viewers the concept behind this programming choice.

Data from observations of the media debate from 2024–2025 suggest that the reaction to this appearance was correlated with general trust in state institutions. People distrustful of the current TVP management treated the presence of a drag queen as proof of a deliberate action aimed at traditional values. In turn, the group of viewers supporting the changes saw this as an opportunity for a modern opening.

Interestingly, the drag queen character herself was reduced in the media to the role of a symbol. Little attention was paid to the material from May 29, 2024, itself, and almost all attention was focused on what this performance *means* for the state. This is a classic substitute mechanism, in which specific media content becomes only a background for the clash of two visions of Poland.

Consequences for the public mission

Does the presence of a drag queen on TVP actually end the era of the public mission? The answer to this question depends on the definition of this mission. If it is understood as "a message acceptable to 100% of society," then this mission is impossible to fulfill in today's realities. If, however, the mission means the representation of diverse attitudes, then the presence of various environments is natural. The problem arises at the moment when pluralism is perceived by a significant part of viewers as an attack on their identity.

For viewers, this means that public television has ceased to be a neutral provider of information and entertainment. It has become an institution that actively participates in shaping the worldview. For many people, this is an unacceptable change. The frustration written about in July 2025 did not stem from the mere presence of one character on the screen, but from the lack of a sense of being represented by an institution for which one pays in taxes and license fees.

This situation also shows the weakness of the public media management system. The lack of developed mechanisms for dialogue with the audience means that every controversial programming decision turns into a PR crisis. In the years 2024–2025, TVP was unable to get out of the defensive, which only confirmed critics in their belief in the necessity of deep structural changes.

From an analytical perspective, the case of "Twoja Stara" is a lesson for every public broadcaster. It shows that in an era of high social sensitivity, every programming decision must be preceded by a risk analysis that is not only substantive but, above all, sociological. Ignoring this aspect leads to a situation in which a program – instead of building a community – becomes a tool for breaking it apart.

Will TVP survive this dispute?

Discussions about the liquidation of public television, which intensified in July 2025, are not just the result of one performance. They are a culmination of years of tension. "Twoja Stara" was merely a catalyst that allowed opponents of the current TVP model to formulate a specific, radical postulate. Will this postulate be realized? That is a matter of political decisions that will be made outside the walls of the television station.

Regardless of how the further fate of the broadcaster unfolds, this case will remain in textbooks as an example of how one personnel choice in a regional program can trigger a nationwide debate about the foundations of the state. Viewers, tired of the emotional message, still expect something more from public television than just a battlefield. They expect reliable information and culture that unites, not divides. Whether TVP will be able to return to this role remains an open question, the answer to which we will learn in the coming months of the station's management work.

Questions and answers

Who exactly appeared on TVP as a drag queen?

A drag queen character using the stage name "Twoja Stara" appeared in TVP productions.

Why do these performances stir such strong emotions?

These performances are perceived by conservative circles as contrary to the mission of public television, which leads to sharp criticism from politicians and social organizations that believe the broadcaster should represent traditional values.

Were there attempts to intervene in this matter?

Yes, among others, the Coalition for the Salvation of the Polish School officially reacted to materials aired by TVP Poznań, demanding a change in programming policy.

What was the position of PiS politicians?

Law and Justice politicians used the incident to question the direction of changes in public media, pointing to it as proof of the station's loss of mission.

Why did the year 2025 bring an escalation of the discussion?

A year after the first broadcasts, in July 2025, the topic returned to the media in the context of a systemic question about the legitimacy of funding TVP from the state budget, which reflected the deepening frustration of some viewers with the lack of changes in the schedule.