Tempest DuJour Suffers Home Accident Resulting in Extensive Injury

Drag performer Tempest DuJour, known off-stage as Patrick Holt, recently disclosed a significant injury resulting from a fall at home. In a candid social media post, DuJour shared details of the incident, explaining that she fainted after getting out of bed in the early hours of a Sunday morning. “About 3 am Sunday morning I got out of bed and fainted, hitting the corner of my dresser,” she recounted. “Five hours later I was stitched up, bottom lip reattached. Ugh.” The drag star provided her 163,000 Instagram followers with images depicting her injuries, which included a bleeding and stitched-up lower lip.

Despite the graphic nature of the photos, DuJour remained forthcoming about her ordeal. The 57-year-old from Arizona speculated to her followers that standing up too quickly from a deep sleep probably caused the fainting episode. She further mentioned, “My husband heard the fall and found me pretty quickly.” In response to concerned messages from fellow performers, including drag show judge Michelle Visage, DuJour admitted she was experiencing “lots of pain and swelling” but confirmed plans to consult a plastic surgeon and expressed embarrassment over the incident.

The condition has highlighted common causes of fainting, medically known as syncope. Annual statistics suggest over 200,000 people are hospitalized due to sudden unconsciousness. According to health experts, quick changes in position can lead to lowered blood pressure and reduced brain oxygenation, contributing to fainting. Other factors include low blood sugar or severe cardiac issues like arrhythmias.

While DuJour did not specify a precise medical cause, many responders on social media cited orthostatic intolerance as a common reason for fainting. This condition involves a failure of the autonomic nervous system to regulate blood pressure when standing, which is notably more prevalent in women.

DuJour is best known for her appearance on season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2015, where she was eliminated in the first episode. However, she has remained a beloved figure in the drag community and made subsequent appearances in seasons 10 and 14.