The Vivienne, First Ever Winner Of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,’ Dies

James Lee Williams, best known by their stage name The Vivienne, has tragically passed away at the age of 32.

The beloved drag performer and television star, who used they/them pronouns, rose to fame as the first-ever winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” in 2019 and later competed on the seventh season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”

Born in 1992 in Colwyn Bay, Wales, The Vivienne was a talented musician and stage actor who released their debut EP, “B-tch,” in 2022 and portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West in a 2023 stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” in London’s West End.

The heartbreaking news was confirmed by The Vivienne’s manager, Simon Jones, who shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram.

“It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams, The Vivienne, has passed away this weekend,” read the statement. “James was an incredibly loved, warmhearted 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.”

He added, “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.”

Jones followed up with a deeply personal tribute, reflecting on his bond with The Vivienne.

“These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much. From the moment I met them in 2019, I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager,” Jones said. “Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.”

Michelle Visage, host and judge of “Drag Race,” shared on social media that she is heartbroken.

“I don’t know how to say how I feel,” Visage said. “We go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all. You were a beacon to so many.”

She added, “Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times.”

Jinkx Monsoon, who later won “Drag Race All Stars” Season 7, wrote, “I don’t entirely have words… [They] has made [their] mark in our hearts and on [their] stages. It’s too soon for a curtain call but I know it’s a standing ovation.”

In an extensive interview with the culture blog JaDar last year, The Vivienne explored the personal significance of portraying the Wicked Witch as a queer individual who sees the Emerald City as a metaphor for self-discovery. Thhey also opened up about their struggles with impostor syndrome and shared insights into the “glamorous” twist they bring to their interpretation of the iconic character.

“Never in my wildest dreams [did I imagine a career in theater],” the drag performer said at the time. “It’s always something I wanted to do; I’m a big musical theatre geek anyway so any time I get to see a show on the West End, I’m there. You never knows the doors that are gonna be open. You always think, to be on the West End or something like that, you have to [have] years of training and everything else.”

They added, “But I kind-of did do years of training but it was just an unconventional way. You know, treading the boards for years, getting changes on bear barrels, and then doing big drag tours and touring the world, so that kind-of geared me up to it.”

In another part of the interview, The Vivienne hinted at a movie project they were developing, remaining tight-lipped on specifics but describing it as “a huge story that needs telling.” They also revealed they had been offered “a very iconic role with an amazing writer” and was actively working to bring that project to life.

“Gotta throw things at the wall and see what sticks, I suppose. Possibilities are endless, I suppose. Drag’s an amazing thing; you get to use every creative bone in your body so why not flex ’em?”