Police have confirmed they had been referred to as to a home close to Chester after the dying of former RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner James Lee Williams, often known as The Vivienne.
The 32-year-old’s dying was introduced on Sunday night and has prompted an outpouring of tributes from celebrities and colleagues.
The performer rose to prominence in 2015 after turning into the UK Drag Ambassador for the American sequence of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
They went on to win the primary UK sequence of the present in 2019 and got here third on the 2023 version of Dancing On Ice.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police stated officers had been referred to as to a home in Chorlton-by-Backford, close to Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following studies of a sudden dying.
They stated there have been “no suspicious circumstances”.
The spokesman stated: “Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
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The assertion stated Williams’ household had been “heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle” and wouldn’t be releasing additional particulars.
Williams, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, carried out because the Depraved Witch of the West in a UK and Eire tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the function within the West Finish final yr.
They had been resulting from be again on tour subsequent month performing within the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical within the function of the Childcatcher.
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A bunch of celebrities have paid tribute, with Dancing On Ice choose Oti Mabuse calling The Vivienne a “phenomenal entertainer” and “trailblazer”.
Fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon stated the star made a “mark in our hearts”.
RuPaul’s Drag Race choose Michelle Visage stated Williams’ dying was “heartbreaking”.
Alongside footage of them collectively, Visage wrote on Instagram: “We go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point.
“Your laughter, your wit, your expertise, your drag. I beloved all of it however I beloved your friendship most of all.
“You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times.”
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Former EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, who appeared with Williams on Dancing On Ice, stated she was “lost for words” and “deeply saddened”.
“You were so beautiful inside and out and I will never forget our experiences we shared during Dancing On Ice,” she wrote.
Coronation Road star Antony Cotton stated it was “unbelievably sad” and Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley referred to as The Vivienne an “incredible human” who shall be missed.
RuPaul’s Drag Race stated it was “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Vivienne”.
In a submit on social media, the present stated Williams’ “talent, humour, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration”.
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Talking in 2019, The Vivienne described their drag model as “like a Scouse wife who has come into money, she moved to LA and blew it all and then she’s had to move back to Liverpool”.
They stated they’d adopted the drag title The Vivienne in honour of the garments designer Vivienne Westwood as a result of they dressed “head to toe in Westwood”.
A person who attacked the drag star in a hate crime in June 2023 obtained a suspended jail time period final January.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Courtroom dominated the one-punch assault by unemployed scaffolder Alan Whitfield on Williams was homophobic.
Williams’ face was bruised and damage for per week, however they advised the courtroom that “luckily” they had been a 6ft ex-rugby participant who may take a punch.
