RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne dies aged 32 | Drag

James Lee Williams, often called drag artist The Vivienne, has died on the age of 32, their public relations consultant introduced on Sunday.

Simon Jones posted on Instagram: “It’s with immense unhappiness that we let you realize our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has handed this weekend.

“James was an extremely liked, warm-hearted and superb particular person. Their household are heartbroken on the lack of their son, brother and uncle. They’re so pleased with the fantastic issues James achieved of their life and profession.

“We is not going to be releasing any additional particulars. We please ask that James’s household are given the time and privateness they now must course of and grieve.”

Williams, whose drag title got here from their love of the style designer Vivienne Westwood, rose to prominence after turning into the UK drag ambassador for the US collection of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015.

They gained the primary UK collection of the present in 2019 after lip-syncing within the ultimate to I’m Your Man, a music by Wham!

Williams subsequently appeared within the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and was a finalist within the UK collection of Dancing on Ice in 2023, ending in third place.

The drag artist most not too long ago performed the Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on tour and beforehand appeared because the Depraved Witch of the West within the revival of the Wizard of Oz musical.

Their movie credit included Completely Fabulous: The Film and their TV credit included Emmerdale.

Tributes had been paid to Williams on social media on Sunday.

RuPaul’s Drag Race choose Michelle Visage mentioned: “Heartbreaking, I don’t know how one can say how I really feel.

“My darling @thevivienne_ we return to after I began coming over right here to the UK. You had been all the time there, all the time laughing, all the time giving, all the time on level.

“Your laughter, your wit, your expertise, your drag. I liked all of it however I liked your friendship most of all. You had been a beacon to so many.”

Coronation Road star Antony Cotton mentioned the information was “unbelievably unhappy”, including: “James was an actual pleasure to be round. We liked him, x.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash wrote on Instagram: “I’m so sorry I’m in whole shock.”

Emmerdale actor Lisa Riley wrote on Instagram: “You unimaginable human … relaxation in peace. By no means cease shining your lovely mild over us all. Love and power to all your loved ones. We’ll miss you a lot.”

The ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly wrote on X: “Oh that is so unhappy – such a stunning, humorous, whip good and beneficiant particular person. A delight to interview. My ideas with everybody who liked The Vivienne.”

Williams, who was born in north Wales, additionally starred in BBC Three present The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood in 2020, which noticed them make their first music video.

They had been joined every week by a unique celeb, with friends together with Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and US comic Bruce Vilanch.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World winner Tia Kofi mentioned in a publish on social media: “That is an unimaginable loss to the British drag group and to the world.

“Viv represented UK drag at its absolute most interesting on stage and display internationally.

“She was a mentor, an inspiration and a buddy. This shock will probably be felt deeply by us all. Love you Viv.”

Talking in 2019, The Vivienne mentioned: “My model is sort of a scouse spouse who has come into cash, she moved to LA and blew all of it after which she’s needed to transfer again to Liverpool.

“I prefer to have a extremely fierce look, however I prefer to be hilarious on stage so I’m type of an old style and the brand new college put collectively which I believe works.

“Comedy is unquestionably my trump card. My favorite trick in drag is my vocal impersonations so I do everybody from Kim Woodburn, Cilla Black, Donald Trump: you title it, I’ll do it – for the best value.”

Final January, a person who attacked Williams in a hate crime obtained a suspended jail sentence.

Liverpool magistrates courtroom discovered that the one-punch assault by Alan Whitfield, an unemployed scaffolder, on Williams was homophobic.

Williams’s face was bruised and painful for every week, however they instructed the courtroom that “fortunately” they had been a 6ft ex-rugby participant who may take a punch.