Following the Drag Race UK winner’s receipt of an Icon Award, Vivienne’s father gave a deeply moving homage to their son.
At the age of 32, the drag queen, whose actual name was James Lee Williams, passed away unexpectedly last month.
Additionally, The Vivienne received the Icon Award at the first-ever Metro Pride Awards on Wednesday, which took place at the Grand Connaught Rooms, in recognition of their revolutionary role in drag, queer visibility, and advocacy.
Their father Lee accepted the award on behalf of The Vivienne, and got choked up as he spoke about his loss.
I’m sure James would have been content because he liked working in the entertainment industry. Lee remarked, “I’m positive he would have loved everything that happened tonight.”
He was honored and made up to be here when he was nominated for the Metro award for rising star the previous year. Being under this roof meant the world to him, even though it is very bittersweet to be here without him.
After the Drag Race UK winner received an Icon Award, Vivienne’s father gave a sorrowful homage to their son (seen)
As he spoke about his loss, their father Lee, who collected the medal on behalf of The Vivienne, broke down in tears.
I want to thank everyone for an incredible night and for their love and support for James. Thank you very much.
The Vivienne was catapulted to international fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.
But in addition to their stardom, Williams struggled with drug addiction, which they have already discussed candidly.
Following the news of their untimely death last month, hundreds of friends, family, and fans gathered in Liverpool, their adopted home city, to release green balloons into the air while listening to The Vivienne’s favorite Wicked songs.
Among those who attended the TV star’s burial in Denbighshire, North Wales, last month were Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Kim Woodburn, Jade Thirlwall, Aston Merrygold, and Claire Sweeney.
The sceptre and crown Before their coffin, relatives, and numerous celebrities, the Vivienne who won on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK was taken into the church.
While some of the men’s suits had Vivienne Westwood emblems on the lapels, many wore green for the service.
‘Vivienne’, ‘James’, and ‘Son’ were the floral tributes shown in the carriage.
James Lee Williams, the drag queen’s real name, passed away unexpectedly last month at the age of 32 (shown in 2022).
In homage to their time on Wizard of Oz, a fourth was composed of p inurple flowers shaped like a witch’s hat.
Williams, who was raised in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, credits their first introduction to drag to watching Lily Savage on television.
At the age of 16, the celebrity relocated to Liverpool to pursue a profession as a makeup artist, initially working on the Debenhams beauty counter. She described Wales as a “big-fish-in-a-small-pond situation.” Go through
They developed their nascent love for drag there, going out with friends in the evenings and earning the moniker “The Vivienne” for dressed exclusively in Vivienne Westwood.
After winning the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Williams’ fame skyrocketed.
They placed third on Dancing On Ice in 2023 and participated in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022.
As the sole UK competitor for that series, The Vivienne also participated in an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the United States in 2022.
In 2020, they starred in The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood on BBC Three, and in 2022, they had an appearance on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer.
The Vivienne was scheduled to return to the road this month, playing the Childcatcher in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Their publicist, Simon Jones, broke the news of Williams’ passing and called him a “very loved” and “wonderful person.”
Co-stars, friends, and loved ones swiftly began to pay their respects.
“What devastating news,” actress Patsy Palmer of EastEnders remarked on X, the former name for Twitter. Rest easy, lovely spirit. I appreciate you being you.
Paying tribute on Instagram, Oti Mabuse said: ‘Some news hits you harder than others and stops you in your tracks. I absolutely loved The Viv. A beautiful human being, funny, kind, a trailblazer, creative and so warm.’
