RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Star The Vivienne dies at 32
James Lee Williams, best known as drag queen The Vivienne and the first winner of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,’ has died at the age of 32.
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A cause of death has been released for drag artist and “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” star The Vivienne, who died in January at age 32.
Chanel Williams, sister of the British drag queen born James Lee Williams, confirmed to the BBC on Monday that her sibling died from a drug-induced cardiac arrest. The heart abnormality occurred due to “the effects of taking ketamine.”
Chanel told the British outlet that the “Drag Race” alum’s family remains “completely devastated” by Williams’ recent death. The family also plans to team up with a substance-abuse organization to raise awareness of the dangers of ketamine.
Simon Jones, James Williams’ manager, confirmed the cause of death in a statement to People. USA TODAY has reached out to Jones for comment.
Williams’ “family and I feel it is important to say how James tragically died,” Jones wrote in an Instagram Story on Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times and Sky News.
Jones’ statement continued: “We hope that by releasing this information we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do (to) your body. Ketamine usage is on the rise, particularly among young people, and I don’t think the full dangers of the drug are being discussed.”
Jones previously confirmed Williams’ death in a Jan. 5 statement posted to Instagram.
“Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much,” Jones wrote. “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.”
A beloved member of both the drag and musical theater communities, Williams made history as the inaugural winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” a British spinoff of drag queen RuPaul Charles’ reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
What is ketamine?
In 2023, ketamine made headlines after “Friends” star Matthew Perry’s autopsy revealed “the acute effects of ketamine” were the leading cause in his death.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes ketamine as “a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects.” It’s a schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has been determined to have “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use in approved healthcare settings, with products that include as an “injectable, short-acting anesthetic,” as well as “a nasal spray for treatment resistant depression” (as esketamine). The FDA first approved ketamine as a short-acting anesthetic for use in humans and animals in 1970.
According to the DEA, “Ketamine has the potential for misuse, which may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.”
RuPaul mourned The Vivienne’s death
In a Jan. 6 statement shared on Instagram, Charles mourned Williams’ death with a photo of them together on the “Drag Race” stage.
“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,” Charles wrote.
Charles’ “Drag Race” co-judge Michelle Visage paid tribute to the British drag artist in her own Instagram post, remembering Williams as “a beacon to so many.”
“You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point,” Visage wrote. “Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all.”
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