The Vivienne’s Family Express Pride at Green-Lit Vigil in Liverpool
The family of The Vivienne shared their pride and love during a heartfelt vigil in Liverpool, honoring the beloved drag icon.
The Vivienne, Liverpool, LGBTQ+, Drag Race, Vigil
Liverpool: The family of drag star The Vivienne held a touching vigil in Liverpool, celebrating their life and legacy. They said The Vivienne “brought the sparkle to life” and would be missed forever.
The Vivienne, known as James Lee Williams, rose to fame after winning the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019. The family expressed their gratitude for the love shown to James, calling him a “son, brother, uncle, and true icon.”
They shared how he was destined for the stage from a young age and always believed he would make it happen. “We are so unbelievably proud of everything they achieved,” they said, adding, “We will miss you for an eternity.”
Before the family’s statement, The Vivienne’s niece, Isabella, spoke to the crowd, saying, “Thank you for being here to celebrate my uncle. I love you, uncle James.”
Performances from Joey & the Hot Tub Boys filled the air, with songs like Heart of Stone and Heroes. Friends and colleagues shared heartfelt speeches, with Danny Beard calling The Vivienne a “truly larger than life” character.
He described The Vivienne as a “shining beacon of light for the LGBT community,” emphasizing that her performances were celebrations of life and self-expression.
The vigil was organized with Sahir House, Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity, where The Vivienne served as an ambassador. Her publicist, Simon Jones, remembered her as a kind-hearted person who always made him laugh.
After winning Drag Race, The Vivienne became the only UK contestant to compete in the American series, appearing in All Stars 7 in 2022. She became a household name through various TV shows, including Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Dancing on Ice.
The Liverpool Empire Theatre was also lit up in green to honor her, as she performed there as the Wicked Witch of the West in a Wizard of Oz production in 2024.
The news of her passing sparked grief across the LGBTQ+ community. At DragCon UK, RuPaul paid tribute, focusing on love and encouraging everyone to live freely and joyfully.
Other notable figures, including Michelle Visage and Ariana Grande, also shared their tributes. The Vivienne was raised in Colwyn Bay, Wales, and moved to Liverpool at 16 to pursue a career in makeup.
She later performed in Gran Canaria, where a vigil was held simultaneously with the one in Liverpool. It was a night filled with love, remembrance, and celebration of a truly remarkable life.