The homophobia The Vivienne faced days before her death breaks my heart
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The Vivienne (also known as James Lee Williams) was effortlessly funny, whip smart, and more confident than anyone I had ever met. And her death – on January 5 at the age of 32 – has shocked me. Losing a friend so young is a real gut-punch – it doesn’t feel real. But the shock and sadness is heightened because I know her final days were spent on the receiving end of abuse and homophobia.
![[LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Vinegar Strokes, Bagga Chipz, The Vivienne, Blu Hydrangea, Cheryl Hole, Crystal, Gothy Kendoll, Davina De Campo and Sum Ting Wong attend Ru Paul's Drag Race UK at on September 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235250505-9e10.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
This was a performer at the top of her game, with work covering theatre, TV, comedy and music, but after they featured on a special Boxing Day episode of Blankety Blank, the usual suspects on social media complained that a drag queen was on their screens. This is despite the show being hosted by Lily Savage for years!.
![[Crystal: The Vivienne]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235250503-6bd6.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The level of vitriol Viv received has compounded the tragedy of her passing. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. I want to be perfectly clear that I am drawing absolutely no connections between her death and this bullying – her family have asked for privacy and I am not engaging in speculation. However, it makes me incredibly sad to know she was on the receiving end of these messages immediately before her death, and I need to address it.
![[NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Gothy Kendoll, Vinegar Strokes, Divina De Campo, Sum Ting Wong, Crystal, The Vivienne, Blu Hydrangea, Baga Chipz, Cheryl Hole and Scaredy Kat of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' attends RuPaul's DragCon 2019 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on September 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235250513-be73.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
