James Lee Williams, widely known by their stage name The Vivienne, has passed away at the age of 32, public relations representative confirmed on Sunday.
Simon Jones shared the announcement on Instagram, writing: "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend."
"James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted, and amazing person. Their family are 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," he furthered.
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In an Instagram post, RuPaul’s Drag Race organization said they are "deeply saddened" by the passing of The Vivienne.
Born in North Wales, Williams adopted their drag name from their admiration for iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. They first rose to prominence in 2015 as the UK drag ambassador for the US series of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In 2019, Williams became a household name after winning the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, where they delivered a memorable final lip-sync performance to Wham!’s “I’m Your Man.”
Their star continued to rise as they competed in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and became a finalist in the 2023 UK edition of Dancing on Ice, finishing in third place.
