Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@thevivienne / Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, Rupauls Drag Race, The Vivienne
Jess Hardiman
Topics: Celebrity, Rupauls Drag Race, The Vivienne
The ex-husband of late RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne has spoken out, following the news of the performer’s untimely death.
James Lee Williams - who took inspiration from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood for their drag alter-ego - rose to fame after taking home the first ever RuPaul's Drag Race UK crown, going on to feature in the All Stars Winners season across the pond three years later.
Yesterday, it was announced that they had sadly passed away, with Simon Jones – the star's longtime publicist – saying in a statement: "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams - The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.”
Jones added that Williams’ family were ‘heartbroken’, and that they requested privacy to ‘process and grieve’.
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Police later confirmed they had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford near Chester at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
"Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances,” a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said.
“A file will be prepared for the coroner."
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David Ludford, Williams’ ex-husband, has now also spoken out with a heartfelt tribute.
Posting photos from their time together, Ludford said in a lengthy statement: “My heart literally sank when I got the call. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd ever be writing anything like this about James Lee Williams.
"This man changed my life so much from the day we first met in August 2017 in Gran Canaria!! We literally clicked straight away and we knew we was going to be together for along time!!
"He made me feel love and shown me what it was really like to love someone."
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Ludford added: "We literally went through and did so much together it was like a whirlwind and I wouldn't have changed the time we spent together for anything In The world! ! !
"I feel like a tit feeling this upset and hurt because we have been fully divorced for just over a year now but we was togteher 6 year and we loved each other so much and you can't take away.
"I'm so happy to say I not only met you but we was together, we was husbands and you was the biggest part of my life for such a long time. 6 years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with.
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"You will always have a place in my heart. Going to miss you more than people will ever know. Sleep tight angel."