The drag artist James Lee Williamsknown as The Vivienne, died at 32As confirmed by his representative, Simon Joneslast weekend. The news has generated a wave of tributes and condolences in the world of entertainment and the drag community.
Simon Jonesin a statement released on social networks, described The Vivienne like “an incredibly loved, big-hearted and amazing person”. He also asked for privacy for the artist’s family, noting that no further details about the cause of his death will be released.
“His family is heartbroken over the loss of their son, brother and uncle.. “They are very proud of the wonderful things that James has achieved in his life and career,” he wrote in the message shared via Instagram.
Born in Wales, Williams adopted the name The Vivienne as a tribute to his admiration for the designer Vivienne Westwood. In 2019, it was established as the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UKachieving notoriety after an outstanding performance in the lip sync final to the rhythm of “I’m Your Man” de Wham!.
In a 2019 interview, she described her drag style as a mix of “old school and new school”, marked by comedy and his ability to perform vocal impersonations of the likes of Donald Trump and Cilla Black.
In addition to his success on the UK competition show, The Vivienne He expanded his career to other areas. In 2023, he placed third in the program Dancing on Ice.
He also played the Wicked Witch of the West on the UK and Ireland tour of the musical The Wizard of Oza role she reprized in the West End last year at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Among his television works, the BBC series stands out The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, where he ventured into creating music videos.
Likewise, he appeared in film productions such as Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and television series such as Emmerdale.
In 2022, he participated in the edition All Stars from the drag contest in the United States, reaffirming his talent on the international stage. Most recently, he played Childcatcher on the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
James Lee Williams He was also a strong defender of LGBTQ rights+ and, as a gay man, he faced situations of discrimination firsthand. In 2022, He was the victim of a homophobic attack in Liverpool.
Although suffered injuriesdeclared in court that he considered himself lucky for his physical strength. The case highlighted the violence that people in the LGBTQ+ community still experience.
Prominent figures in the drag community and entertainment world expressed their sorrow over the loss of James Lee Williams.
The official account of RuPaul’s Drag Race posted on social media: “We are deeply saddened by this news. “His legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity.”
Michelle Facejudge of the program, described the news as “heartbreaking” and recalled his friendship with the artist: “Your laughter, wit, talent and drag were always exceptional. But what I loved most was your friendship”.
Other colleagues in the franchise, such as Bimini Bon Boulashshared their dismay on social networks, while Tia Kofiwinner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The Worlddescribed it as “a mentor, an inspiration and a friend”.
Rydal Penrhos College, where Williams studied, issued a statement highlighting the impact of his career: “The Vivienne’s successful career was a source of inspiration and joy for many”.
The death of The Vivienne leaves a notable void in the artistic community and in the followers of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
