RuPaul pays an emotional tribute to The Vivienne at the opening of DragCon UK

On Sunday (Jan. 05, 2025), it was announced that beloved drag performer and theatrical star The Vivienne passed away at age 32. Law enforcement officials have confirmed there were no suspicious elements surrounding the death.

During DragCon UK, currently being held at ExCeL London this weekend (January 10 – 11), RuPaul, who hosts Drag Race, delivered a heartfelt tribute to the groundbreaking first champion of the show's UK edition.

“We want to focus on love, and we are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love, life, and happiness because that's what she was all about,” he said.

“She would love for you to live your lives, to be free, to have a lot of fun, and to spread it around.”

The event coordinators have established a dedicated memorial area for attendees to honor her memory.

“Please be mindful that we all process and experience grief differently, and some people might not be ready yet to talk about the loss of someone important to them,” they wrote on Instagram.

“We're providing a memorial booth space on the pink carpet where all attendees can pay tribute to The Vivienne, share condolences, and speak about it if they're ready.”

Representatives confirmed that volunteers from Switchboard LGBTQ+ Helpline will be available to support those seeking emotional assistance.

This latest remembrance from RuPaul follows an earlier social media tribute posted this week.

“With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne,” he shared, calling her “an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being.”