Yahoo News RuPaul pays tribute to The Vivienne after death
RuPaul has paid tribute to The Vivienne following the drag artist’s death, sharing that he had a “broken heart” after hearing the news.
It was announced on Sunday (January 5) that the performer – real name James Lee Williams – had passed away at the age of 32, with publicist Simon Jones describing them as a “warm-hearted” and “amazing” person.
Following their passing, RuPaul took to Instagram to pay tribute to the late star, sharing a photo with the caption: “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.”
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The official account for the show, of which The Vivienne triumphed in the first season of the UK version, also paid tribute to the star, writing: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Vivienne. Her talent, humour, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration.
“She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity – she embodied what it means to be a true champion. Our hearts go out to her family and fans during this difficult time.”
In a statement confirming The Vivienne's death, Jones wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams, The Vivienne, has passed [away] this weekend. James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted, and amazing person.
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“Their family is 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 will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
In addition to their appearance on the first season, The Vivienne also starred in the seventh season of spin-off series RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022, before appearing on the 15th season of Dancing on Ice in 2023.
RuPaul's Drag Race UK airs on BBC Three in the UK and streams on WOW Presents Plus in the US.
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