Following their unannounced passing over the weekend, fans have been pouring in tributes to The Vivienne, a member of RuPaul’s Drag Race team.
The Vivienne, birth name James Lee Williams, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice. Their publicist, Simon Jones, announced the news on Sunday evening, writing that The Vivienne was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”.
In a post on Instagram, the PR guru added: “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 Vivienne passed away, but how?
The Vivienne, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, was just 32-years-old at the time of their death. Their passing comes just days after they appeared on television during the holiday season, appearing in a beloved BBC classic Blankety Blank’s Christmas special.
No official information about the drag icon’s tragic passing has been made public, and their cause of death has not yet been revealed. We won’t be disclosing any additional information. As Simon Jones announced his client’s passing on social media, “We kindly request that James’s family be given the time and space they now need to process and grieve.”
Shortly after sharing the news of The Vivienne’s death, Simon shared an additional tribute to his late client. I have no desire to write these words. Viv was a close friend. the PR specialist wrote in a post on his Instagram page about a client who I loved very much.
I knew I could work magic with them from the moment I met them in 2019. I eventually became their manager. Their creativity was incredible, and the light they provided was incredible. In my life, Viv has never laughed as much as she has ever. Their quick wit and comical prowess were unparalleled.
“I’m so proud and lucky that Viv has been a significant part of my life for the past five years,” the tribute continued. It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In musical theater, Viv and Viv found a place and a career they admired, enjoyed, and cherished. This news has me devastated and heartbroken. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon”.
Who was The Vivienne?
The first RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, James Lee Williams, revealed the origins of their stage name and how they chose to name their alter-ego before hosting a BBC Three show in 2020. The Vivienne, the only UK contestant in that series, also competed in the RuPaul franchise’s all-winners season in the US in 2022.
The Vivienne explained their name in a statement released in 2019 ahead of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s first series, saying, “I love Vivienne Westwood and everyone would call me Vivienne because I was head to toe in Westwood. So when I started doing drag it was a natural progression, but I didn’t want one of those cheap, nasty, slutty drag names so I thought of ‘ The Vivienne ‘ and here she is, there’s only one of them”.
The Vivienne described their drag style as “like a Scouse wife who has made a fortune, moved to LA, and blew it all,” before having to move back to Liverpool. I prefer to be funny on stage because I like to have a really fierce look, so I’m a mix of the old school and the new school, which I believe works. My favorite movie is definitely comedy. My favourite trick in drag is my vocal impersonations so I do everyone from Kim Woodburn, Cilla Black, Donald Trump – you name it, I’ll do it – for the right price”.
Judge Graham Norton claimed in the final critique before the winner was named that The Vivienne had “it all,” while Baga Chipz and Divina De Campo were the judges in the finale. After their breakthrough in 2020, they went on to appear on a number of UK shows, including Dancing On Ice, Emmerdale, Celebrity Hunted and The Weakest Link.
The late actor, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz musical, was also a rising star in the world of theater and previously played the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were scheduled to return on a tour next month to play the Childcatcher in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical.
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Source: Mirror
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