An inquest has discovered drag queen The Vivienne didn’t intend to take their life after they died after taking ketamine.
Coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded The Vivienne, whose actual identify is James Lee Williams, died by “misadventure” after struggling cardio respiratory arrest.
Williams, who received the primary sequence of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, was discovered lifeless on the age of 32 within the tub at their dwelling in Cheshire on 5 January this 12 months.
In March, the star’s household revealed the performer had died “from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest”, saying they needed to boost consciousness in regards to the risks of the drug.
Cheshire Coroner’s Court docket heard 5 drug snap luggage have been discovered, together with in a bed room draw and a bin within the lavatory, of their dwelling in Chorlton-by-Backford, close to Chester.
Police attended and confirmed there have been no suspicious circumstances.
The inquest heard family and friends had no worries about Williams’s psychological well being and the performer was trying ahead to future roles on TV and within the theatre, though did “occasionally” take ketamine.
The star’s household informed the listening to the performer shouldn’t be remembered for his or her use of the Class B drug and that medication didn’t outline the particular person they have been.
Williams’s father Lee Williams described them as “an outgoing character who was full of life” and “just wanted to make people laugh”.
“He achieved his goals. He had future goals he wanted to achieve. Along the way he always wanted to try to help his community, which he did and try to help other drag queens,” he stated.
“He was always available. He never turned anybody down. He never turned his back on anybody. He never said no.
“He cherished the stage, that is the place he noticed the remainder of his profession being, on the stage, within the theatre. That is what he cherished to do.”
Williams’s funeral in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales, was attended by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi and Baga Chipz, along with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV character Kim Woodburn and Coronation Avenue actress Claire Sweeney.
Picture:
The Vivienne on the premiere of the movie ‘Depraved’ in November 2024. Pic: AP
Throughout their time on the present, beneath their drag identify, Williams admitted having been a drug addict for 4 years.
“It was party, drugs, but I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party, it was constant for me,” they stated.
They added that their dependancy was a “habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard”.
The TV character, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, earlier than shifting to Liverpool, got here third within the 2023 version of Dancing On Ice.
The star carried out because the Depraved Witch of the West in a UK and Eire tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the position within the West Finish on the Gillian Lynne Theatre final 12 months.
They have been due again on stage in March because the Childcatcher in a tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a job they first performed final 12 months.
The federal government is searching for professional recommendation after unlawful use of ketamine surged to report ranges.
Within the 12 months ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 folks aged 16 to 59 had reported use of the substance, which is managed as class B, in response to the Dwelling Workplace.
