RuPaul’s DragCon has announced a heartfelt tribute to The Vivienne following her tragic passing. The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, sadly passed away on Sunday at the age of 32.
Her death was confirmed by her publicist and friend Simon Jones. In a statement announcing the sad news, Jones said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.”
He added: “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.”
Following the devastating news, RuPaul’s DragCon revealed via their Instagram page that they’re setting up a memorial booth at the event, which is taking place on January 10 and 11 at ExCeL London, reports the Mirror.
This will allow fans to express their condolences and pay homage to the iconic drag queen, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.
They wrote: “As we all move through this weekend together, we know that many of us will want to celebrate The Vivienne by sharing condolences with those close to her. Please be mindful that we all process and experience grief differently and some people might not be ready yet to talk about the loss of someone important to them.”
At the upcoming DragCon event, attendees can pay their respects to The Vivienne in a specially designated memorial area. A booth will be dedicated for people to share their condolences and talk about The Vivienne if they wish.
Additionally, the Switchboard LGBTQ+ helpline will be present for those who need support or someone to talk to. The statement concluded: “We cannot wait to see everyone this weekend and fill the room with love.”
Fellow queens such as Danny Beard and Maxine LaQueene praised the gesture, with comments such as “Lovley! ! ! Thanks for doing this guys! ” and “Thank you for offering space for people to grieve and give condolences to Viv.”
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According to a statement on Monday by Cheshire Police, police were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on Sunday at 12:22 pm due to a reported sudden death.
After conducting an investigation, the police concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the death of the 32 year old man, and a report will be sent to the coroner.
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