The death of James Lee Williams, professionally and popularly known by their drag name, The Vivienne, came as a heartbreaking shock to fans across the globe this past weekend. The Vivienne’s publicist shared the news of their passing at the age of 32 on their social media on January 5, saying what many of us feel about the U.K. drag superstar; “James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted, and amazing person.” No cause of death is known, or likely will be reported.
Hailing from Wales and taking their drag name after Vivienne Westwood, whom the queen was extraordinarily fond of, The Vivienne became U.K. Drag Ambassador for the American RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015, and went on to win the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019. They also competed in season seven of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022, which was the first-ever All Winners season as well. Their accomplishments stretch beyond the Drag Race name and reach another competition show, Dancing on Ice, in which they were the first drag performer in 2023. They also extend to the stage, where they starred as The Wicked Witch of the West in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz on London’s prestigious West End from 2023 to September of 2024.
They said in an interview with Jadar this past September that the story of The Wizard of Oz was a metaphor for their own life, moving from North Wales to Liverpool to begin their career and find a place where they could flourish in who they truly were. They said, “The whole story is (…) Dorothy learning that that thing that you’re searching for is within yourself—For her, it was the power to get back home, but that was secondary to her finding herself and knowing that she could do that without any magic”. The Vivienne also let on in this interview that they were developing a film, as well as separately working with a writer they admired—They had lots on the way for their fans and were testing the very bounds of their art form to create; “Possibilities are endless, I suppose. Drag’s an amazing thing; you get to use every creative bone in your body so why not flex ’em?”
The Vivienne was a rock for many in the community, according to Michelle Visage, a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, who said that other queens would call on them when they needed a shoulder to cry on. The star was also open about their past drug addiction and their experiences with rehab, saying in a confessional on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, “This is why I want to say to people, I fell into that trap. But you can get out of it with the support and help of friends, family or even yourself. You’ve got it deep inside.”
The star has received an outpouring of love, warmth, and remembrance from fans and colleagues alike; RuPaul posts on her Instagram, “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.” The RuPaul’s Drag Race account on X shared similar sentiments to mourning fans, saying, “Her talent, humor, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration,” and that “her legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity—She embodied what it means to be a true champion,”
Michelle Visage shares her grief online with the statement, “I don’t know how to say how I feel. You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever.” Countless posts from fans, drag performers, and other queer icons who were lucky enough to work alongside The Vivienne have flooded socials in the days since the announcement of her passing.
In the words of many of her friends, rest easy, Viv.
Photo courtesy of social media
