The Vivienne’s memory was shared by their peers at the Metro Pride Awards, which was heartfelt.
Following their heartbreaking passing last month, The Vivienne, the cherished RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, was presented with the Icon Award posthumously. The Vivienne, as we know it, was a true force of nature in the drag industry, breaking barriers and inspiring so many of us with their talent, wit, and heart, host Rylan Clark said while speaking on stage. They left a lasting legacy in everything they did, and they were a true example. Tonight, we are paying tribute to The Vivienne at the Metro Pride Awards, with the Metro Pride Awards Icon Award”.
After their sister and dad collected the trophy and delivered an emotional speech, Simon Jones, The Vivienne’s close friend, was introduced to the stage by Rylan and Simon Jones, the audience’s publicist. As he held back his tears, Simon said: “You’ll have to bare with me because it’s quite emotional for me to talk about Viv. I’m going to say a few words about Vivienne’s legacy. I had a very close relationship with Viv, who was also a client and who I deeply cared about. No one disputes that The Vivienne was the victorian of the UK drag scene.
Simon continued, adding that their legacy was reflected in the outpouring of love and grief following their passing. “To the UK DragRace Queens, in particular, Viv was a mentor and someone they could turn to for advice”, he said. Simon went on to say: “Theatre is where we saw their future. They would have eventually moved on to Broadway and become a major musical star.
” We must remember Viv as the warmhearted, positive and kind person that they were. One of the UK’s greatest drag stars and entertainers, Viv leaves a legacy. Her presence and legacy will be felt forever. “
Simon explained in a moving tribute in the event program that he was first contacted about managing Vivienne after they won the first Drag Race series. It was really important to me that I did something positive, uplifting and game-changing. Together with Viv we did just that, “he said.
I’ve never laughed as hard as I’ve watched them perform, Simon continued. Their quick wit, comic timing and genius snap backs were side-splitting, but it was always done with love and a huge wink. Viv was adored by audiences. They would laugh all night because they felt secure using their hands. Some of Viv’s Netflix content is among the funniest you will ever watch, which is why it keeps getting stale on TikTok.
“But the incredible private moments we shared where Viv would make me laugh uncontrollably will be what I will cherish the most.” Sometimes we would just go out for lunch or dinner to catch up on gossip. That was Viv’s magic. Everyone in the room would feel the presence of their presence as they entered the room. On top of that, they were warm, charming, polite and professional. Everyone was treated like a special and loved one, which is unusual. They were utterly star-struck and talented.
No one in the community disagreed that Viv was the queen of UK drag, he added. It was amazing to witness the love and support she showed to all queens, whether or not they had been broadcast. Viv, who was first hired in Liverpool, never forgot where she came from and always wanted to give back to queens there. In fact, every time they toured, Viv gave a support slot to a local drag queen, often a friend of hers. Viv held a significant role in raising money for charity.
” They would often do gigs to raise funds for causes such as Sahir House, Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ HIV charity, or when they launched a clothing range in aid of Mermaids. They were always afraid to speak out on issues that needed to be in the spotlight, and the community was of utmost importance to them. Over the five years that I knew her, The Vivienne and I worked hard together post the Drag Race win, appearing on TV shows such as The Great British Sewing Bee, Celebrity Juice, Celebrity Hunted, Blankety Blank, The Chase, and The Weakest Link. or starring in Emmerdale and This Is Going To Hurt on the BBC. There was only one person to turn to when Ant andamp; Dec wanted to learn how to do drag for Saturday Night Takeaway, and that was The Vivienne.
The tribute, performed by the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, was a touching moment as The Vivienne’s profound impact on the LGBTQ+ community was celebrated. Members of The Vivienne’s family accepted the award on their behalf, ensuring their legacy continues to inspire.
Awards host, Rylan said of the evening’s awards:” We’ve celebrated the absolutely incredible achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s been a year of highs and lows, glitter and grit, and honestly, it’s like we’re living in the middle of a Drag Race lip-sync battle. Some countries seem to be going forward, others well let’s just say they’re still stuck in the bottom two. But regardless, this was a wonderful event about celebrating what we’ve achieved. “
An inquest found that The Vivienne had passed away in their Cheshire home. The 32 year old performer, whose real name was James Lee Williams, was discovered at their residence in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on January 5.
At a recent hearing held on February 12th at the Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington, it was revealed that police had rejected any possibility of the death’s origins. Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar stated:” Post-mortem testing has been undertaken, identifying an unnatural cause of death. “
The inquest, which lasted just two minutes, heard that the late star was identified by their father, Lee Williams. Given the unnatural cause of death identified by post-mortem testing, it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into James Lee Williams’ death, according to area coroner Victoria Davies. She stated that a thorough inquest was necessary, and she decided to adjourn the case until June 30. Four members of the media showed up for the brief session.
The Vivienne, who hailed from Colwyn Bay, North Wales and later moved to Liverpool, clinched victory in the debut series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and snagged third place in Dancing On Ice 2023. The Vivienne performed the role of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London’s West End last year, first in a Wizard of Oz musical that played throughout the UK and Ireland.
In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Tour this month, they were scheduled to re-create the role they first portrayed last year. Their farewell ceremony in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire in North Wales was graced by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK pals Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz, and Cheryl, alongside Steps vocalist Ian” H “Watkins, television’s own Kim Woodburn, and Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney.
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Source: Mirror
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