The Vivienne vigil leaves family ‘completely overwhelmed’ as hundreds pay tribute in Liverpool

The Vivienne, the 32-year-old drag race star, passed away earlier this month in Liverpool as a result of a family, fans, and other stars’ gathering on Sunday evening in tribute to her.

The performer, whose real name was James Lee Williams, passed away at their home last Sunday, 5 January, leaving the entertainment world and those who knew them devastated. On St George’s Hall’s steps, a vigil was held to honor and celebrate the TV star, with help from Drag Race competitors and soap stars.

In honor of the performer, who had previously played the Wicked Witch of the West in a prestigious UK touring production of The Wizard of Oz, buildings were lit up in green. Additionally, balloons were thrown into the air during the ceremony’s closing ceremony.

Bobby Musker, The Vivienne’s friend, read a statement written by The Vivienne’s family that read, “We are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for James, The Vivienne… From an early age it was obvious he was destined for the stage… he was determined to pave his own way in this world.”

The star’s family described him as a “son, brother, uncle, and true icon” and said, “The dream never, ever changed and James would always promise to make it happen, which they did.”

The family added, “We will miss you for an eternity and we will all love you,” and that they were “so unbelievably proud of everything they accomplished.” Danny Beard, who won season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, called The Vivienne a “truly larger than life” character who could “never be confined by the ordinary”.

Danny said: “The performances weren’t just acts, they were celebrations of life. They taught us that it was acceptable to “live loudly.” Liam Fox, an Emmerdale actor who co-starred with The Vivienne in a stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Bang, expressed their grief over the star’s passing.

Liam told the Metro: “It was so beautiful. She was so beloved by all those who knew her, which adds to her tragic loss at the same time as there was so much more to come. I enjoyed all the speakers and the stories from the beginning of the drag scene. There was laughter and tears. The balloon release, which happened organically during the song For Good, was particularly beautiful”.

Sunday’s vigil was organised with the help of Sahir House, Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity – of which The Vivienne was an ambassador. The Vivienne rose to fame after winning RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s first season in 2019 and making appearances on Celebrity Hunted and Dancing On Ice.

They also featured in the 2016 film Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, and even played themself in a special guest role on ITV’s long-running soap Emmerdale in 2021. Family and friends were shocked and depressed by the performer’s sudden passing last weekend when the singer’s death was revealed. Publicist Simon Jones used social media to break the news.

He wrote: “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. Losing their son, brother, and uncle has devastated their families. They are extremely proud of what James accomplished in both their lives and careers.

The statement added: “We will not be releasing any further details. Please allow James’s family the space and privacy they require to process and grieve right away. In the days since The Vivienne’s sudden passing, fans and other performers have expressed their shock. Among those who left tributes online was RuPaul Charles.

RuPaul wrote, “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.” He shared a photo of himself with The Vivienne on the famed Drag Race catwalk stage.

Michelle Visage, a drag race judge, expressed her shock at the star’s passing. She wrote online: “I don’t have the words. Utterly heartbroken”.

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Source: Mirror