The queer community is mourning the loss of The Vivienne, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1, whose cause of death has now been confirmed. James Lee Williams, known as The Vivienne, passed away on January 5, 2025, at the age of 32 due to cardiac arrest caused by ketamine use.
Their manager, Simon Jones, shared the news with Attitude Magazine, hoping to raise awareness about the drug’s dangers. “Ketamine usage is on the rise, particularly amongst young people, and I don’t think the full dangers of the drug are being discussed,” he stated.

Tributes poured in from the drag and LGBTQ+ communities. RuPaul expressed heartbreak, calling The Vivienne “an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being.” Bianca Del Rio added, “Thank you for sharing your light with all of us.”
A beloved performer and advocate, The Vivienne leaves behind a powerful legacy. Their untimely passing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of open conversations around substance use and harm reduction. Rest in power.
Vous aimerez aussi
-
Narcissus and the Others: Queer Bodies in Rebellion at Brutus – Rotterdam
Until June 15, Rotterdam’s industrial art space Brutus hosts a raw and radical exhibition: Everything
-
Flood Budapest – Because Pride Is Not a Crime
This year, Budapest Pride marks its 30th anniversary. For three decades, Hungary’s LGBTQIA+ community has
-
Stars, Stripes & Red Flags: Belgium Warns Queer Travelers Heading to the U.S.
Belgium’s Foreign Affairs office is preparing to update its travel advice for citizens visiting the
-
Paula Roïd: Diaspora, Drag & Defiance
Meet Paula Roïd: a Brussels-based drag queen born in Sri Lanka, raised in the Paris
-
Mickey Says No to Hate: Disney Shareholders Reject Anti-Queer Push
In a powerful show of support for LGBTQ+ rights, Disney shareholders have overwhelmingly rejected a