RuPaul breaks silence 24 hours after death of ‘lovely human being’ The Vivienne with heartfelt tribute
RuPaul has shared an emotional tribute following the death of The Vivienne, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, who passed away at the weekend aged 32.
The American drag icon, 64, took to Instagram to express his grief over the loss of James Lee Williams, known professionally as The Vivienne.
“With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne—an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being,” RuPaul wrote alongside a photo of the late performer.
The news of Williams’ death was announced on Sunday, with publicist Simon Jones confirming the passing in a statement.
Jones described Williams as “an incredibly loved, warm-hearted, and amazing person” whose family is heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother, and uncle.
The circumstances surrounding The Vivienne’s death are currently unknown, with the family requesting privacy during this difficult time.
However, police issued a statement on Monday, detailing they had been called to an address the day before.
The Vivienne rose to prominence after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, later appearing in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022 and competing on Dancing on Ice in 2023.
The official RuPaul’s Drag Race show also shared their grief on social media platform X.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Vivienne. Her talent, humour, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration,” the statement read.
The show added: “She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity – she embodied what it means to be a true champion.”
The Vivienne made history as the inaugural winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, earning particular acclaim for their comedic performances.
Judge Michelle Visage had dubbed them “the best Snatch Game character in the history of the show” following their memorable impression of Donald Trump.
The winning performance featured The Vivienne’s transformation into the former US President, complete with orange makeup, pouted lips and a blonde wig.
Beyond the UK series, The Vivienne went on to showcase their talents internationally, competing in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022.
Fans and fellow performers have flooded social media with tributes following RuPaul’s emotional post.
One fan commented: “The RPDR fandom throughout the world has been shaken to its core. RIP Queen Viv.”
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Another supporter acknowledged RuPaul’s role in The Vivienne’s success, writing: “Thank you for giving her a platform that brought her all to our screens.”
Fellow drag performer Danny Beard shared a personal message to RuPaul, writing: “You meant the world to her! Sending love.” (sic)
The tributes continue to pour in as the drag community mourns the loss of one of its biggest stars.
The family has requested privacy during this period of mourning, with no further details about the circumstances being released at this time.