The Vivienne LGBTQ+ News Family of The Vivienne says drag icon kept ketamine addiction a secret to “protect them” Chanel Williams, the sister of James Lee Williams, also known as drag icon The Vivienne, says her family only learned of the drag performer’s battle with ketamine addiction, which tragically took their life in January, after watching RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Chanel By Graham Robson • 2 min read
Sponsored Content The Vivienne’s “extraordinary life” to be celebrated in new documentary A documentary celebrating the life and career of beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne, who tragically died in January 2025 aged just 32, has been announced. Produced by World of Wonder, Dear Viv will trace the late star’s journey from their childhood in North Wales to success and internat By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News The Vivienne’s father pays tribute to their son after late Drag Race UK winner was honoured with Icon Award at inaugural Metro Pride Awards The Vivienne‘s father paid a heartbreaking tribute to their son after Drag Race UK winner was honoured with the Icon Award at the inaugural Metro Pride Awards on Wednesday, February 26. The star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died suddenly in January at the age of jus By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News The Vivienne to be honoured at inaugural Metro Pride Awards The Vivienne, who tragically passed away in January, is set to be honoured at the inaugural Metro Pride Awards, which will bring together the most influential and inspiring LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations to honour and celebrate the extraordinary talent, resilience and passion that defines LGBT By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News Funeral of The Vivienne, who died on January 5 aged just 32, takes place in Wales Mourners including pop singers Ian “H” Watkins and Jade Thirlwall joined family to say goodbye to Drag Race UK star The Vivienne (James Lee Williams), who died early in January 2025 aged just 32. A horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the church for The Vivienne’s funeral, with a coffin inside toppe By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News “She had it all.” Baga Chipz remembers The Vivienne, who they starred alongside on season one of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Baga Chipz, the drag queen who starred in the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alongside The Vivienne, thinks the best way to pay tribute to the series one winner, who died on January 5 aged just 32, is to just air clips of her going forwards. Speaking at RuPaul’s DragCon UK at ExCel […] By Graham Robson • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Liverpool comes together to honour the life of The Vivienne Liverpool is set to pay its respects to 32-year-old drag icon The Vivienne today with a vigil in honour of the star, who tragically passed away on Sunday, January 5. In a touching Instagram post, their publicist, Simon Jones, paid tribute to the Drag Race icon, saying: “James was an incredibly loved By Graham Robson • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Tyra Sanchez posts series of ‘twisted’ posts after the tragic death of The Vivienne RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Tyra Sanchez has come under fire after sharing a series of ‘twisted’ posts after the tragic death of The Vivienne. The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, tragically died on Sunday, January 5 aged 32 following a glittering career on stage and screen after By Graham Robson • 2 min read
The Vivienne LGBTQ+ News Forever The Vivienne – “An immense talent is lost to not only the LGBTQ+ community but the wider world.” It had taken me two months to set up my interview for Scene with drag star The Vivienne – well that’s what happens when an international performer is due on your doorstep – in this case as The Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang at Congress Theatre. It would turn out to be a terrific, […] By Brian Butler • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News The Vivienne, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has died aged 32 The Vivienne, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has died aged 32 it has been announced. Publicist Simon Jones confirmed the sad news of their death via Instagram , writing: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne – has passed this weekend. “James was By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Musical Theatre “I want to evoke nightmares.” The Vivienne speaks ahead of playing the Child Catcher in UK tour of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ The Vivienne – first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – has a new mission in life onstage – “I want to evoke nightmares,” she tells me as she is about to bring the villainous Child Catcher to Eastbourne in the UK tour of musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Her drag name derives from her […] By Brian Butler • 3 min read
Theatre Queer Theatre: A round-up of the hottest LGBTQ+ theatre My latest round-up of shows with queer themes or queer performers runs the gamut from Donna Summer to a drag queen becoming the evil child catcher. Mark Farrelly has a wonderful series of shows, many of them depicting some great gay icons – Derek Jarman and Frankie Howerd to name just two, and he’s By Brian Butler • 4 min read
