The death of The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams, has reportedly left RuPaul "in bits" - and considering stepping away from his TV series, which has aired for five years
09:01, 09 Jan 2025Updated 09:15, 09 Jan 2025
RuPaul is reportedly devastated by the tragic death of The Vivienne and is "seriously considering" quitting his role as host on the hit show, according to reports. The 64-year-old icon paid his respects to The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, following their untimely passing at the age of 32 over the weekend.
RuPaul expressed his sorrow, stating: "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 had shot to fame after winning the first UK series of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2019, a BBC reality show where drag queens vie for the title of RuPaul's "superstar". Their death has left RuPaul "in bits", insiders claim, and he's now contemplating stepping back from the British version of the show, which he has hosted for five years following its stateside success.
A source revealed: "This has come like a bolt out of the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them. He has been left absolutely devastated by their passing and is now weighing up his own future. Ru is now seriously considering standing down from hosting the UK franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv."
It took Ru, originally from San Diego, California, a full day before he addressed the sad news with an emotional post on Instagram. His silence was noted amidst a flood of tributes, including heartfelt messages from singer Michelle Visage and Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, reports the Mirror.
The friends and fans of Drag Race UK star The Vivienne have announced that RuPaul paid his respects to the beloved entertainer, although many now wonder whether Ru will step down from his iconic host role for the UK. Leaving co-hosts Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton to take up the role, speculation revolves around whether the popular show may continue to thrive or eventually falter without Ru at the center.
Born James Lee Williams, The Vivienne was originally named for the love of their fashion icon Vivienne Westwood. Prior to their rise to fame, Williams initially struggled in the bars of Gran Canaria.
Inspired by RuPaul's original US talent show first aired in 2009, they transformed into The Vivienne, which went on to be the first UK series winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Williams appeared once again during the seventh series of All Stars in 2022.
Their big break was marked in 2019 by their charismatic display of blunt honesty and sharp wit, including an impressive Donald Trump impersonation in Drag Race UK. News broke with their father discovering them at their home; Cheshire Police were subsequently called and reported "no suspicious circumstances".
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