The Vivienne Passes Away Aged 32

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Drag Race UK star The Vivienne has passed away aged 32, a representative for the star has confirmed.

On Sunday 5 January, her publicist Simon Jones wrote in an Instagram post:

“It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams - The Vivienne - has passed this weekend. James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person. We please ask that Jame’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve".

The publicist added that they will not be releasing any further details related to the star’s death.

As The Vivienne, Williams first gained national notoriety in the UK drag scene after being anointed the first “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Ambassador” by RuPaul in 2015.

They went on to become the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019. During her run on Drag Race, she was open about her battle with addiction, saying she hoped to “help people along the way”.

Williams, who was born in Wales but began her drag career in her hometown Liverpool in the late 2000s, then returned to the beloved drag show in 2022, as part of All Stars 7, the first-ever all-winners’ season.

She has since appeared as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2023 – where she made it to the final with professional partner Colin Grafton – and appeared on stage as The Wicked Witch of the West in the 2024 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz.

Tributes have poured in from the drag community.

In a moving tribute on Instagram, Drag Race judge Michelle Visage wrote:

“My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag.

“You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever. RIP MY ANGEL fly high”.

Drag Race UK vs The World winner Tia Kofi addded: “This is an incredible loss to the British drag community and to the world. Viv represented UK drag at its absolute finest on stage and screen internationally. This shock will be felt deeply by us all. Love you Viv”.

The Vivienne was remembered by All Stars 7 winner Jinkx Monsoon for leaving her “mark in our hearts and on her stages”, while fellow All Stars 7 competitor Jaida Essence Hall described her as “perfect” and “such an incredible person to everyone”.

#thevivienne #rupaul #dragrace #dragraceuk #michellevisage #lgbtqia

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