Drag Race star RuPaul ‘seriously considering’ quitting hit TV series after The Vivienne’s shock death
RuPaul has made his first public appearance since The Vivienne’s death, delivering an emotional tribute at DragCon UK in London’s ExCel centre on Friday.
The 64-year-old drag icon appeared visibly moved as he addressed the crowd alongside fellow judge Michelle Visage.
“We are here to celebrate life and celebrate love and to spread it around. We want to focus on love”, RuPaul told attendees at the convention’s opening.
Standing beside Visage, who wore a T-shirt bearing The Vivienne’s name, RuPaul spoke of remembering the late performer who tragically died last week aged 32.
“We are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love and life because that’s what she was all about”, he said.
Organisers at DragCon UK have set up a memorial wall and memorial books for fans to pay tribute to the late entertainer.
A dedicated memorial booth has been installed at the east London venue, where tens of thousands of drag fans are expected to attend this weekend.
RuPaul emphasised that The Vivienne “would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and spread it around”.
The tribute comes after RuPaul had previously expressed his grief on Instagram, stating his heart was “broken” and that he was “mourning the loss of The Vivienne — an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being”.
Sources close to RuPaul have revealed he is “seriously considering” stepping down from hosting Drag Race UK following The Vivienne’s death.
A friend of the star told the Daily Mail: “This has come like a bolt out of the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them.”
The source added that RuPaul is “now seriously considering standing down from hosting the UK franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv”.
Reports suggest the American drag queen has confided in those close to him about his packed filming schedule, noting he “isn’t getting any younger”.
Sources indicate RuPaul believes the show would be in “good hands” with co-presenters Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.
The Vivienne, whose off-stage name was James Lee Williams, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and later made history as the first drag queen to compete on Dancing On Ice.
Police were called to a property in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of an unexpected death.
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A Cheshire Police spokesman confirmed there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the death of the 32-year-old.
Williams had been set to tour next month in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical as The Childcatcher.
The star’s ex-husband David Ludford said in a statement: “My heart is literally shattered, I feel so out of place I feel lost, I feel numb.”