How RuPaul REALLY reacted to shock death of The Vivienne… and why the tragedy could spell the end of Drag Race, reveals GRANT TUCKER
Upon learning on Sunday night that drag artist The Vivienne passed away at 32 years old, countless individuals expressed their respects on various social media platforms.
James Lee Williams, known as a performer, was among the standout contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, the popular reality television program where drag queens battle it out to win RuPaul’s title of ‘superstar’.
As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that in 2019, The Vivienne, who prefers they/them pronouns, triumphantly claimed victory in the UK’s initial season of our beloved show. Their winning strategy was a captivating blend of sincerity, sharp wit, and an astonishingly accurate portrayal of Donald Trump. The series instantly resonated with viewers worldwide, amassing over 15 million streams on iPlayer.
But there was one notable voice missing from the sea of tributes at the weekend: RuPaul himself.
Many found it surprising when there was no response from the U.S. drag queen, born as RuPaul Andre Charles in 1960, who is also the show’s creator. This is because he had previously discovered ‘The Viv’ and chose her to become his ‘superstar’.
But, friends now tell me, RuPaul was choosing his words carefully.
People familiar with the star have shared that the 64-year-old individual was deeply saddened and heartbroken by the passing of Viv, and has been greatly affected by the unexpected loss, showing signs of deep emotional distress.
Actually, it’s worth mentioning that RuPaul is contemplating a significant step due to the heavy impact of the tragic events – he’s thinking about relinquishing his role as the host on the show.
A friend of the celebrity shared with me: ‘This unexpected news shocked Ru deeply. The Vivienne was one of his shining talents, and it’s common knowledge that he held a special affection for them. His heart is shattered following their demise, and he’s currently contemplating his own path moving forward.’
Ru is currently pondering deeply about stepping away from managing the UK edition, a role that will forever be linked with The Viv.
For a while now, RuPaul has been sharing with his inner circle that his work schedule is incredibly busy and he feels the effects of growing older.
Beyond that, I’m utterly confident that the show is being expertly managed with my remarkable colleagues, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, and Graham Norton at the helm. We’re not just working together; we’re setting the stage ablaze!
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but wonder about the future of our beloved show now that its iconic figurehead is no longer with us. Will it keep going? Can it maintain its magic without the central character? These are questions that have started to linger in my mind and, I believe, many other fans as well.
24 hours following the announcement, RuPaul shared with his 6 million Instagram fans, expressing a heavy heart, ‘I grieve alongside the whole Drag Race community over the passing of The Vivienne. She was not only exceptionally gifted in her art but also an exceptional human being.’
Next to the post, there was a picture featuring not a photo of The Viv dressed up, but rather a youthful individual wearing a baseball cap, grinning alongside RuPaul.
It turns out that the young fellow went by the stage name “The Vivienne,” which he chose because he admired the fashion designs of Vivienne Westwood, particularly Williams’ personal taste.
In the challenge of earning a livelihood in the bars of Gran Canaria, Williams found himself captivated by RuPaul and his talent contest, which debuted in the United States in 2009.
1) “Viv’s long-held aspiration to be featured on the show eventually became reality, ten years after its UK debut. The audience was deeply touched by Williams’s openness about his struggle with drug addiction prior to relocating to a Spanish island. During heartfelt interviews on screen, the artist confessed that drugs had essentially served as his ‘morning meal, midday meal, and evening meal’, for an extended period of four years.
Williams stated that it was a series of partying and drug use, and he found himself unable to abandon the drugs during those gatherings as they were a consistent aspect of his life.
For seven nights a week, Williams would perform in bars and clubs and sank into addiction.
The phrase “You need to hit rock bottom to move forward” might seem foolish at first glance, but it holds a grain of truth in it. For me, experiencing homelessness and being told that I wouldn’t make it past 30 was the most solitary period of my life. I felt like I was dying… and unfortunately, my family remains unaware of this dark chapter.
‘I could’ve been dead now if I didn’t do anything about it.’
Thanks to assistance from Armistead, a recovery center located in Liverpool, Williams regained his health and subsequently relocated to Spain where he encountered his partner, David. The pair were wed for a span of four years before parting ways in April 2023.
In that particular year, after clinching the show’s victory, it immediately gained popularity on BBC, leading to the production of additional five seasons. This triumph in turn sustained the performer’s ongoing success.
Television executives aimed to transform The Vivienne into a new incarnation of Lily Savage, the character famously portrayed by the late Paul O’Grady, given their shared sharp humor and ties to Liverpool.
Just over a fortnight prior to The Vivienne’s passing, the artist participated as a panelist on Blankety Blank – the show where Lily Savage gained her fame.
It’s worth mentioning that The Viv had been chosen as a potential contestant for this year’s Celebrity Big Brother, scheduled for March. This opportunity came about following The Viv’s third-place finish in the previous season of Dancing on Ice.
Apart from excelling on television, The Vivienne also had a flourishing stage career last year. Notably, she delivered a critically praised performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz and the role of the Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the West End.
But on Sunday, Williams’s distraught father found his son unresponsive at home.
The Cheshire Police stated that they responded to a location in Chorlton-by-Backford around 12:22 PM on Sunday. Later, they reported finding no evidence of any concerning or unusual situations at the scene.
In the words of Simon Jones, who is both a friend and manager to The Vivienne: ‘It’s heartbreaking to see their promising career cut short so early.’
The potential demise of the star and doubts about the television series’ continuation might bring a sense of gloom to RuPaul’s yearly drag convention, attracting thousands this coming weekend.
It has been shared with me that RuPaul plans to journey a distance of approximately 5,000 miles from his residence in Beverly Hills to London, where he will join his longtime co-host and close friend Michelle Visage for an event taking place at the Excel Centre.
The influential American singer known as Ms. Visage, a significant figure in the United Kingdom’s drag community, is believed to assume control of Drag Race should RuPaul decide to step down, as they share a close friendship with The Vivienne.
This week, Visage, aged 56, paid homage to The Vivienne with these words: ‘I adored your laughter, your cleverness, your skill in drag, but above everything else, I cherished our friendship. You were a guiding light for countless others.’
‘It’s been a blessing knowing you and sharing laughter with you on countless occasions. My dear, I am filled with love for you.’
The duo is reportedly preparing for an exceptionally heartfelt homage during the largest UK drag convention – it’s meant to be a celebration, not just a tribute, honoring the fallen performer.
There will also be a memorial booth on the ‘pink’ carpet where attendees can pay tribute.
‘They want to fill the room with love,’ said an insider.
However, even with all the organized festivities, it’s likely that queries will linger among supporters of The Vivienne and RuPaul for a while yet.
Or:
Although there are planned celebrations, it seems that fans of The Vivienne and RuPaul may have questions on their minds for some time still.
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2025-01-08 20:12