The Vivienne's cause of death as the first RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner dies at 32
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Tributes have been pouring in for RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne following their unexpected death being announced over the weekend. The Vivienne, birth name James Lee Williams, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice. Their publicist, Simon Jones, announced the news on Sunday evening, writing that The Vivienne was an "incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person".
In a post on Instagram, the PR guru added: "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.".
The Vivienne, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, was just 32-years-old at the time of their death. Their passing comes just days after appearing on TV over the festive season, starring on a Christmas special of the beloved BBC classic Blankety Blank.
The drag icon's cause of death is yet to be announced publicly and minimal details about their tragic passing have been shared. "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," Simon Jones wrote as he announced his client's death on social media.
Shortly after sharing the news of The Vivienne's death, Simon shared an additional tribute to his late client. "These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend. a client and someone I loved very much," the PR expert penned in a post on his Instagram page.
