Additional investigation is required into the dying of RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne, a coroner has mentioned, after postmortem testing revealed an “unnatural” trigger.
The physique of James Lee Williams, who carried out because the drag queen, was discovered at their dwelling in Chorlton-by-Backford, close to Chester, on Sunday 5 January.
Cheshire Coroner’s Courtroom in Warrington opened an inquest at a brief listening to on Wednesday.
Williams, 32, was discovered of their lavatory, the courtroom heard. Police attended and confirmed there have been no suspicious circumstances.
Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar mentioned postmortem testing had taken place and recognized “an unnatural cause of death”.
Williams was recognized by their father, the courtroom heard.
Space coroner Victoria Davies mentioned: “Given the unnatural cause of death identified on postmortem testing it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into the death of James Lee Williams.”
Additional investigations are required, she mentioned, and the case was adjourned for a full inquest, set for 30 June.
Williams, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, earlier than shifting to Liverpool, gained the primary collection of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and got here third within the 2023 version of Dancing On Ice.
Their drag title got here from their love of legendary British designer Vivienne Westwood.
RuPaul mentioned the world had misplaced an “incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being”.
Contestants from the present together with Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz, and Cheryl, together with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV character Kim Woodburn and Coronation Road actress Claire Sweeney, have been amongst those that attended their funeral in Denbighshire, North Wales, in February.
Williams additionally carried out because the Depraved Witch of the West in a tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical throughout the UK and Eire, and reprised the position within the West Finish in 2024.
They have been as a consequence of be again on stage this month because the Childcatcher in a tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a task they first portrayed final 12 months.
