The Vivienne Mike Marsland/WireImage
The cause of death for RuPaul’s Drag Race star James Lee Williams, a.k.a. The Vivienne, has been confirmed.
The drag artist’s family told BBC News that they died from cardiac arrest caused by use of the powerful anesthetic drug ketamine. The Williams family have confirmed plans to work with a substance abuse charity, Adferiad, on a campaign to encourage more open discussion of addiction.
“Ketamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.K.,” the Williams family said. “If we can help raise awareness of the dangers of this drug and help people who may be dealing with ketamine addiction then something positive will come from this complete tragedy.”
The Vivienne’s sister, Chanel Williams, said that their family “continue to be completely devastated” by the star’s death, with their manager, Simon Jones, adding: “I hope by us releasing this information we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do to your body.”
News of The Vivienne’s death broke on January 5. The drag queen, who used they/them pronouns, was 32.
“It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams — The Vivienne — has passed this weekend,” Jones wrote in a statement shared via Instagram at the time.
“James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person,” the statement continued. “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. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’ family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
Jones subsequently shared a more personal Instagram post about The Vivienne’s untimely death.
“These are words I never ever wanted to write,” Jones noted. “Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much. From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager. Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing.”
Jones was “so proud and lucky that Viv was such a big part of my life every day for the last five years,” adding that it was “tragic that their career was only just beginning.”
“I am heartbroken and devastated at this news,” the statement concluded. “RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”
One day after the news of The Vivienne’s death, authorities confirmed that the incident was deemed unsuspicious.
“Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances,” a spokesman for the Cheshire Police told Hello! on January 6. “A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
RuPaul was among those who paid tribute to The Vivienne, writing via Instagram, “With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne — an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being.”
The Vivienne appeared on season 1 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and became the inaugural winner of the series.
Drag Race executive producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey have announced a brand new documentary, titled Dear Viv, about The Vivienne’s life and legacy. The film will air on WOW Presents Plus in 2025, and features interviews with The Vivienne’s Drag Race U.K. colleagues Baga Chipz, Michael Marouli and Danny Beard as well as fans who were impacted by the drag icon.
“We want to celebrate The Vivienne’s extraordinary life and work so everyone can experience her incredible talent, sass and enormous heart,” Barbato and Bailey said in a statement on March 5.
