RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne’s household mentioned they are going to be missed “for eternity” throughout a vigil in Liverpool tonight (January 12).
Big crowds gathered within the metropolis on the steps of St George’s Corridor to pay their respects to the late star – actual identify James Lee Williams – who died per week in the past on the age of 32.
The landmark was lit up in inexperienced to honour The Vivienne’s function in The Wizard Of Oz musical and crowds held up their cellphone torches to a transferring rendition of ‘Someplace Over The Rainbow’.
“As a household we’re fully overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection for James, The Vivienne,” the household mentioned in a press release (by way of BBC Information) learn by The Vivienne’s buddy Bobby Musker.
“From an early age it was evident he was destined for the stage… he was decided to pave his personal manner on this world. The highway was not simple however the dream by no means, ever modified and James would all the time inform us that they might make it occur they usually did.”
Lights are shining vibrant in #Liverpool as ‘Someplace over the Rainbow’ is sang to convey the vigil for The Vivienne to an in depth. pic.twitter.com/wS5QNdpUiv
— Hits Radio Information | Liverpool & North West (@HitsLpoolNews) January 12, 2025
Surreal and emotional gathering honouring The Vivienne within the metropolis she referred to as residence 💚 pic.twitter.com/jnzEoURFYO
— Paul McAuley (@paul_mcauley) January 12, 2025
The second inexperienced balloons have been launched into the #Liverpool night time sky for The Vivienne.
A vigil is being held for the drag icon, following their dying final week. pic.twitter.com/MPjw1cwKXR
— Hits Radio Information | Liverpool & North West (@HitsLpoolNews) January 12, 2025
They added: “We are going to miss you for an eternity and for an eternity we’ll all love you.”
Crowds heard performances from Joey & The Scorching Tub Boys, who sang Cher‘s ‘Coronary heart Of Stone’ and David Bowie‘s traditional hit ‘Heroes’.
Former RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard additionally paid their respects, saying The Vivienne was a “really bigger than life” character who may “by no means be confined by the peculiar”.
They described them as a “shining beacon of sunshine for the LGBT group”, including: “The performances weren’t simply acts, they have been celebrations of life. They taught us it was OK to reside out loud.”
Publicist Simon Jones who confirmed The Vivienne’s dying final week, paid tribute to the late star in the course of the ceremony too.
“I’ll bear in mind The Vivienne as being a very kind-hearted, pretty individual in addition to being probably the most wonderful expertise,” Jones mentioned.
“What I cherished probably the most about The Vivienne was that she made me giggle the entire time. There’s actually nobody who has made me giggle as a lot as Viv, whether or not that was at a present the place she was studying the viewers… or once we have been going for lunch or dinner or hanging out.
“There was all the time a fast one-liner and one thing a bit savage. She was all the time hilarious and I’m actually going to overlook that. She introduced a lot love and heat into my life.”
The Vivienne rose to prominence in 2015 after changing into the UK Drag Ambassador for the American collection of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
They later competed within the first UK collection of the present in 2019, occurring to win it after lip-syncing within the closing to Wham! hit ‘I’m Your Man’.
Williams, who was born in Wales, additionally got here third on the 2023 collection of Dancing On Ice.
Whereas no reason behind dying has been launched, a spokesman for Cheshire Police not too long ago shared a press release saying there have been “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding their passing.