Brave Drag Race star The Vivienne beat drug addiction with help from ex-husband after being told ‘you’ll be dead by 30’
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TRAGIC RuPaul's Drag Race winner The Vivienne charmed millions of viewers as a larger-than-life performer who bravely wore their heart on their sleeve. And over the years, the 32-year-old - whose shocking death was announced at the weekend - has been candid about their biggest struggle, battling a debilitating drug addiction that sparked fears they would be "dead by 30".
![[The Vivienne won the first RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/vivienne-attends-rupauls-dragcon-los-961749918_7adeff.jpg?strip=all&w=716)
The popular performer, who appeared on Dancing On Ice and this Christmas’s Blankety Blank special, end up in hospital three times in one month after becoming hooked on the Class B drug ketamine. But The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, kicked the habit around seven years ago and inspirationally used their platform to raise awareness about the dangers of addiction.
![[The Vivienne finished third on Dancing on Ice]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/vivienne-colin-grafton-dancing-ice-961739392.jpg?strip=all&w=850)
The cause of the drag queen’s death is not known at the moment and there is no suggestion that they relapsed. The Welsh-born star, who moved to Liverpool aged 16, first encountered the "party drug" while performing. They became famous after winning the first RuPaul's Drag Race in 2019 and appeared in stage shows such as Wicked and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
![[The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/st-timesgrab-taken-instagram-without-650154942_d78c3e.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
But constant touring was draining, with James admitting last year "six months non stop touring, eight shows a week really took its toll.”. Their death has shocked the showbusiness world, with Ariana Grande, The Pussycat Dolls' Ashley Roberts and Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley all paying tribute to The Vivienne.
![[James posted this throwback picture of their late teen years]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jodieharsh-look-back-archives-https-961908762.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
