If you’ve spent any time in the corner of the internet inhabited by "the sweaties," you know that rumors about the stars of UNHHH spread faster than a lace-front lifting in a windstorm. Recently, a specific search has been bubbling up: Katya Zamolodchikova mom dies. It’s the kind of phrase that makes your heart drop if you’re a fan of Brian McCook (the genius behind Katya). But here is the thing about the drag world and Katya’s specific brand of humor—things are rarely as grim as a Google search suggestion makes them seem.
Let’s get the big question out of the way immediately. No, Katya Zamolodchikova’s mom, Pat McCook, has not died.
There hasn’t been any official announcement, no somber Instagram post, and certainly no news reports from reputable outlets. If you're seeing people talk about it, they’re likely confused by a few different things that have collided in the chaotic Katya lore.
Why Do People Think Katya’s Mom Passed Away?
The internet is a weird game of telephone. Honestly, the confusion usually stems from two places: Katya’s dark sense of humor and her very public breaks from the spotlight for her own health.
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Back in 2021, there was an episode of The Bald and The Beautiful (the podcast Katya co-hosts with Trixie Mattel) that featured "Katya’s Mom." Within the first five minutes, Katya joked that Trixie had "passed on." It was a wild, confusing bit where a voice actress (often suspected to be the legendary Deven Green) played a fictionalized version of her mother. If you jumped into that episode without context, you might have thought you were listening to a memorial service or a family crisis.
Katya also has a long history of being incredibly open about her own mortality. She literally had a tour titled Help Me, I'm Dying. When a performer spends a decade joking about death, rehab, and "glamorous" collapses, the algorithm starts to get a little twitchy.
The Confusion with Other "McCooks"
Another reason these searches spike is due to "SEO bleed." If you search for "McCook death" or "McCook health," you might run into stories about Michelle McCool (the WWE star) or even news articles about a woman named Jessica McCook who suffered from autoimmune encephalitis. These stories are tragic and very real, but they have absolutely nothing to do with Katya or her mother, Pat.
Who Is Pat McCook? (The Real "Mama Zamolodchikova")
Pat isn't just a background character in Katya’s life; she’s basically a drag icon in her own right. Fans first fell in love with her during RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7, specifically during the makeover challenge.
Remember that? Katya had to transform her mom into a drag daughter named "Skarya Zamolodchikova."
It was one of those rare, genuinely sweet moments in a show that usually thrives on manufactured drama. Pat was a total sport. She didn't just sit there; she leaned into the absurdity. While Katya was spiraling with anxiety (as she famously did that season), Pat was the steady, grounding force.
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- Location: She still lives in Massachusetts.
- Relationship: Katya has often described her as supportive, if not a bit baffled by the sheer scale of Katya’s fame.
- Appearances: Aside from Season 7, she’s been mentioned countless times in UNHHH episodes, usually as the person Katya calls when things are getting too "real."
Dealing with Celebrity Death Hoaxes and Rumors
We’ve seen this before. Remember when everyone thought Trixie Mattel was retiring? Or when rumors swirled that Katya was leaving drag forever during her 2018 hiatus?
When a celebrity like Katya—who has been transparent about her struggles with sobriety and mental health—goes quiet, the fan base panics. In early 2024, Katya did take another hiatus to enter a treatment facility. She posted a video explaining that she needed to get a handle on things before they hit "jails, institutions, or death."
Because she used the word "death" in her explanation of why she was seeking help, it likely triggered a wave of concerned searches. When people search "Katya Zamolodchikova death," Google's autocomplete often tacks on "mom" or "family," and suddenly, a rumor is born.
The Reality of Katya’s Current Status
As of 2026, Katya is very much active. She’s back on the podcast, she’s filming, and she’s still the "average, run-of-the-mill Russian bisexual transvestite hooker" we all know and love.
There is no evidence to suggest that her family is currently dealing with a loss. In fact, if something that significant happened, Trixie Mattel would likely be the first person to signal a change in their filming schedule or offer a public show of support. Those two are joined at the hip, and they don't play around when it comes to actual life-and-death situations.
How to Verify Celeb News Without the Panic
If you see a headline that looks like clickbait about a celebrity's family member, do these three things:
- Check the Source: Is it a TikTok with a "rest in peace" filter? Ignore it. Is it a major outlet like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or Entertainment Weekly? If not, it’s probably fake.
- Look at the Official Socials: Katya is active on Instagram and X (Twitter). If her mom had passed, she wouldn't be posting memes about cigarettes and high heels.
- Listen to the Podcast: The Bald and The Beautiful is filmed fairly close to the release date. If there was a family emergency, they usually address why an episode is a rerun or why someone is missing.
Moving Forward as a Fan
It's natural to care about the people who make us laugh, especially someone as vulnerable and "real" as Katya. But the Katya Zamolodchikova mom dies rumor is just that—a rumor fueled by a mix of dark comedy, unrelated news stories, and the general chaos of the internet.
Pat McCook is, by all available accounts, doing just fine.
If you want to support Katya, the best thing to do is keep watching her content and respecting her privacy when she decides to step away for her health. Drag is an exhausting business, and the McCook family has already given us so much of their lives for our entertainment.
Instead of searching for tragedy, maybe go back and re-watch the Season 7 makeover episode. It's a much better way to appreciate the bond between a mother and her very eccentric, very talented son.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Verified information on Katya's touring schedule can always be found on her official website or through her management, Producer Entertainment Group (PEG).
- If you're looking for genuine updates on her health or family, stick to the Bald and the Beautiful podcast, where she and Trixie regularly discuss their personal lives in a non-clickbait format.
- Avoid engaging with "tribute" videos on social media that don't link to a verified obituary; these are often created by bots to farm views from concerned fans.