James Lee Williams, also known as the drag queen The Vivienne, passed away over the weekend at the age of 32.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race star’s publicist and manager Simon Jones shared the tragic news in a statement on social media, writing, “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. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother, and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career,” Jones went on.
The statement concluded, “We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
Jones later shared another message revealing more thoughts on The Vivienne’s passing. He stated that he was “heartbroken and devastated,” writing, “Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing…RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”
What is The Vivienne’s cause of death?
An official cause of death for The Vivienne has not been shared, and their publicist indicated in a statement that there are currently no plans to release additional information publicly.
How old was The Vivienne when they died?
The Vivienne, born on April 12, 1992, was 32 years old at the time of their death.
Was The Vivienne sick?
It’s not known if The Vivienne was sick at the time of their passing. In the past, the late performer was open about struggles with drug addiction, opening up on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and saying, “When people say, ‘You’ve got to hit rock bottom to get further,’ it sounds so stupid but it’s the truth.”
They stated that they got help at The Armistead Centre in Liverpool, England, which has since closed, praising the rehabilitation center and saying that they did an “absolutely amazing job.”
What was The Vivienne known for?
The Vivienne was a well-known drag queen who gained fame after winning the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, although they previously made an appearance on the original series in 2015 as the “UK Drag Ambassador.”
They went on to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022, ending up in seventh place alongside Jaida Essence Hall from Wisconsin. The Vivienne also became the first drag performer to take part in the British competition series Dancing on Ice the next year, ending in third place.
The Vivienne was very active on social media, connecting with fans and sharing their creative projects. Recently, the drag queen attended the Wicked movie premiere in London in November.
Many friends and colleagues of The Vivienne mourned the loss, sharing tributes and kind words in reaction to the sad news.
Trinity the Tuck, who won the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, wrote on their Instagram Stories, “I am devastated,” before adding in a tribute post, “I’m so heartbroken over the news of my friend! Viv was such a great friend!”
Blu Hydrangea, who competed in the same season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and later won RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World, wrote on their Stories, “Truly heartbroken to hear about the loss of a dear friend and sister ❤️.”
Another well-known drag queen, Cheryl, re-shared the news of The Vivienne’s death and added, I will love you forever Viv ❤️.”
Sutan Amrull, also known as Raja Gemini, also shared a tribute to honor The Vivienne, posting a few photos and the message, “My friend…I have no words. My eyes swollen in tears. Please say this isn’t true, a hilarious prank only you can master. Please.”
The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, Bianca Del Rio, posted some photos on X as they wrote, “Rest well , @THEVIVIENNEUK ❤️🩹 Thank you for sharing your light with all of us 💋.”
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