The entertainment world is mourning the loss of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner James Lee Williams, best known as The Vivienne, who passed away aged 32 over the weekend. The beloved drag performer and West End star’s death was confirmed in a social media post by her publicist.
Tributes have poured in from the Drag Race community and beyond, with Michelle Visage leading heartfelt messages. Sharing photos of herself with The Vivienne, Visage described her as “a beacon to so many.”
“Heartbreaking. I don’t know how to say how I feel,” Visage wrote on Instagram. “My darling @thevivienne_… Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it, but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes.”
Tributes from the Drag Race Family
Tia Kofi, winner of Drag Race UK vs. The World, highlighted The Vivienne’s impact on UK drag:
“This is an incredible loss to the British drag community and to the world. Viv represented UK drag at its absolute finest on stage and screen internationally. She was a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend. This shock will be felt deeply by us all.”
Shea Couleé, Jinkx Monsoon, and Jaida Essence Hall, who competed alongside The Vivienne on All Stars 7, also expressed their grief. “I’m in complete and utter shock,” wrote Couleé. Monsoon remembered her as leaving “a mark in our hearts and on her stages,” while Hall called her “perfect” and “an incredible person to everyone.”
Trinity The Tuck added: “I’m so heartbroken over the news of my friend! Viv was such a great friend! Always made time for you… she was just a good person. I cannot believe this!”
Crystal, The Vivienne’s co-star from Drag Race UK Season 1, wrote, “I can’t believe this… I don’t know what to say,” while Drag Race UK winner Kyran Thrax called her a “remarkable human.”
The Vivienne launched her drag career in 2007, gaining national recognition as the official RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Ambassador in 2015. In 2019, she became the first-ever winner of Drag Race UK, earning international acclaim.
She later competed on All Stars 7, the franchise’s first all-winners season, and reached the finals of Dancing On Ice in 2023. In 2024, she made her mark in the West End, playing the Wicked Witch of the West in a revival of The Wizard of Oz.
Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies praised The Vivienne’s talent, describing her as being “on the cusp of graduating to West End stardom.” TV presenter Rylan called her death “such a loss” and remembered her as “an amazing performer.”
Celebrities such as Ashley Roberts, Patsy Palmer, and Todrick Hall also shared tributes.
In the original announcement, publicist Simon Jones wrote:
“James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted, and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother, and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We, please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
The Vivienne’s influence on drag, theatre, and the LGBTQ+ community will not be forgotten.
