The Vivienne and David Ludford married in 2018 but split in 2023 (Image: Suzan Moore/PA Wire)
The Vivienne’s former partner, David Ludford, has honoured the drag star after
James Lee Williams, who rose to fame as The Vivienne and became the inaugural winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, was previously married to David for six years.
The performer took a break from her role as a Pride Quarter DJ and host in Spain’s Canary Islands, holding a residency at Sparkles show bar, performing several nights a week. It was there that they encountered David, leading to their marriage in 2018 at the iconic G-A-Y nightclub Heaven in London.
David is also recognised within the drag scene for his enterprise, Drag Helmet Wigs. Despite their shared passions, the pair parted ways in 2023 after more than five years together, releasing a joint statement at the time.
The statement read: “As many may have noticed, David and I have been apart recently. We have made the decision to part ways after an amazing five and a half years.”
David paid tribute to The Vivienne with an emotional statement (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“We are still very much friends, but sometimes life gets in the way, and people grow apart. We wish each other the absolute best and will always be part of each other’s lives. We’d ask that you please respect our privacy at this time. Thank you. James and David.”, reports .
Following the announcement of The Vivienne’s death by publicist Simon Jones via a heartfelt post, David has now shared his own homage, posting a touching photo collage from their wedding day.
Stricken with grief, he turned to social media and disclosed that his “heart sank” upon receiving the saddening news. He further reflected: “Never in a million years did I ever think I’d ever be writing anything like this about James Lee Williams.”
Emotionally recounting their relationship, he shared, “This man changed my life so much from the day we first met in August 2017 in Gran Canaria. We literally clicked straight away, and we knew we were going to be together for a long time! ! He made me feel love and showed me what it was really like to love someone.”
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Continuing his touching tribute, he said, “We literally went through and did so much together it was like a whirlwind, and I wouldn’t have changed the time we spent together for anything In the world. I feel like a tit feeling this upset and hurt because we have been fully divorced for just over a year now, but we were together for 6 years, and we loved each other so much, and you can’t take that away.”
Concluding his heartfelt post, he celebrated the bond they shared: “I’m so happy to say I not only met you, but we were together, we were husbands, and you were the biggest part of my life for such a long time. Six years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with. You will always have a place in my heart. I’m going to miss you more than people will ever know. Sleep tight, angel.”