The Vivienne’s cause of death has been revealed (Image: GETTY)
Born James Lee Williams, best known as drag star The Vivienne, died from cardiac arrest brought on by the effects of ketamine, their family has confirmed. The 32-year-old’s sister, Chanel Williams, said the family “continue to be completely devastated” by the loss and are now dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of the drug. She added that they will be working closely with a substance abuse charity in The Vivienne’s memory. An inquest into the star’s death is set to take place in June, but Cheshire Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding their passing.
Now, The Vivienne’s family has revealed that ketamine played a role in their death in the hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of the drug. Simon Jones, The Vivienne’s manager and close friend, said the family felt it was important to be open about the circumstances. He said: “I hope by us releasing this information we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do to your body.”
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The Viv became the only queen from a UK series to compete on the US version of Drag Race All Stars (Image: Getty)
Born in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, before moving to Liverpool, The Vivienne shot to fame in 2019 as the first-ever winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, later becoming the only UK queen to compete on Drag Race All Stars in the US. Their career spanned TV, theatre, and advocacy work, earning them a devoted fanbase.
Following their sudden passing, an emotional vigil was held in Liverpool, where their family said they “brought the sparkle to life” and would be missed “for eternity.”
Their funeral, which took place at the end of January in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, was attended by a host of famous faces, including singer Jade Thirlwall and Steps star Ian “H” Watkins, as well as fellow drag queens and loved ones.
The Vivienne had previously spoken candidly about their struggles with ketamine addiction during Drag Race UK, earning praise for bringing substance abuse issues to the forefront.
Now, their family hopes to continue their legacy by working with the substance abuse charity Adferiad to launch a campaign aimed at opening up conversations about addiction.
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The star’s family said they wanted to “raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage” (Image: Getty)
Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms Williams warned: “Ketamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is becoming more and more prevalent in the UK.
“If we can help raise awareness of the dangers of this drug and help people who may be dealing with ketamine addiction then something positive will come from this complete tragedy.”
Ketamine, a powerful horse tranquiliser and anaesthetic, is a licensed medical drug but is increasingly being used illegally, particularly among young people.
In England, the number of under-18s entering drug treatment who describe ketamine as one of their problem substances rose from 335 to 917 between 2020-21 and 2023-24, according to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System.
Donna Chavez, a spokesperson for Adferiad, which runs a specialist detox and rehabilitation centre, said they were “incredibly grateful” to Williams’ family for their support.
She added: “Their courage in sharing James’ story will help raise vital awareness of the devastating impact substance use can have.
“By opening conversations and challenging misconceptions, we can help prevent further tragedies and support those in need to find hope and recovery.”