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RuPaul expressed that his “heart is shattered” following the passing of former Drag Race champion, The Vivienne.
The drag performer and television host conveyed on Instagram on Monday that he stands with the entire Drag Race community in mourning The Vivienne, whom he described as “an exceptionally gifted queen and a wonderful individual.”
The Vivienne, whose birth name was James Lee Williams, triumphed in the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.
Read more: The Vivienne’s ascent as a drag ‘trailblazer’
The 32-year-old’s demise was made public by their representative Simon Jones on Sunday evening.
Danny Beard, who clinched victory in the reality series in 2022, referred to The Vivienne as “a genuine entertainer” and “one of the most fervent, talented, quirky individuals I have ever encountered,” noting that their passing left “an absence now.”
Cheddar Gorgeous, the runner-up of that year, expressed on Instagram that they had lost “a colleague, a companion, and an icon,” adding that “the entire entertainment industry mourns” and that it was “impossible to comprehend such sorrow.”
RuPaul joined the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne
Bagachipz remarked on social media that they would “speak to you before I step onto every single stage I perform on,” praising The Vivienne as a “force of nature when you grace that platform.”
The Vivienne’s former spouse, David Ludford shared that the artist “filled my life with love and demonstrated to me the essence of truly loving someone.”
The Vivienne at the UK premiere of Wicked in November. Pic: AP
The Vivienne, aged 32, gained recognition in 2015 when she was appointed as the UK Drag Ambassador for the American version of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The program features drag queens vying for the title of the next drag superstar before a panel of judges.
The Vivienne, whose drag persona was inspired by her admiration for the renowned designer Vivienne Westwood, subsequently participated in the inaugural UK series of the competition in 2019, ultimately triumphing by lip-syncing to the Wham! classic “I’m Your Man” in the finale.
Williams, hailing from Wales, also secured third place in the 2023 season of Dancing On Ice.
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A representative from Cheshire Police stated that officers responded to reports of a sudden death at a residence in Chorlton-by-Backford, close to Chester, at 12:22 PM on Sunday.
The police department confirmed that there were “no suspicious circumstances.”
