The Vivienne was bombarded with homophobic abuse after their Blankety Blank Christmas look which aired days earlier than their tragic loss of life, reveals BGT drag act Myra DuBois

The Vivienne was hit with a barrage of homophobic abuse after they appeared on Blankety Blank over Christmas just days before their tragic death.

The drag artist, whose real name was James Lee Williams, tragically died over the weekend, aged just 32. 

The Vivienne, one of Britain’s most recognisable drag queens after shooting to fame when they won the inaugural season of RuPaul‘s Drag Race UK in 2019, was found dead by their heartbroken father and stepmother, according to friends.

Their cause of death has not yet been announced, but police said they found ‘no suspicious circumstances’.

Just days before their sudden death, The Vivienne made their final TV appearance in the Christmas special of the BBC‘s Blankety Blank reboot, hosted by Bradley Walsh, which aired on Boxing Day.

In the pre-recorded episode, the drag artist joined joined Jonathan Ross, Oti Mabuse, Jane McDonald, Joel Dommett and Sara Pascoe. 

In the wake of The Vivienne’s death, Britain’s Got Talent drag act Myra DuBois, whose real name is Gareth Joyner, hit out at trolls who had ‘bombarded’ The Vivienne with taunts following their TV cameo. 

Myra, who was a 2020 semi-finalist on BGT, wrote on Instagram: ‘I don’t know how The Vivienne left us, and I will be respecting the family request for privacy by not trying to find out, or by fuelling rumours. 

‘I do know that after appearing on Blankety Blank over Christmas they were bombarded with a slew of homophobic abuse. 

‘I also know that the comments sections on posts announcing their passing are filling up with comments like “one less” and “rest in hell”. 

‘I need you to know this. I want you to acknowledge this. To me, to your colleagues, to your family. I want you to acknowledge it when there are no LGBTQ+ people in the room with you. 

‘You can’t just post how sad you are when LGBTQ+ people die. I want you to ask if you’re doing everything you can to keep all LGBTQ+ people alive.’

Myra went on to ask her followers if they ‘challenge transphobia when they encounter it’. 

The television personality added: ‘Do you make an effort to use pronouns that might not immediately make sense to you?

‘Do you post comments of love so they drown out comments of hate?

‘Do you oppose political parties who openly discriminate LBGTQ+ people even if they align with your beliefs elsewhere? 

‘I don’t care how you answer, it’s between you and yourself. But in the last few years I have buried so many friends, all of them LGBTQ+, all of them taken too soon.

‘And it is NOT because of the ‘lifestyle choice’. It’s the burden of shame. Society murders queers, and I am so, so angry.’ 

Last night, a friend told The Sun that The Vivienne was found dead by their father and stepmother.

The newspaper reported that The Vivienne was next week due to move into a new £400,000 house and had also booked a holiday.

‘They were planning a tour and really had everything to live for,’ the friend added.

News of the talented drag artist’s death was announced across social media on Sunday. 

Tributes poured in for the star, who was born in Wales, including from their ex-husband David Lufton, as well as Drag Race judge Michelle Visage and co-star Tia Kofi as they shared their heartbreak at their passing.  

Confirming the news on Instagram, The Vivienne’s publicist Simon Jones wrote: ‘It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend. 

‘James was an incredibly loved, warmhearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. 

‘They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. 

‘We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.’ 

He continued: ‘These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much.

‘From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager.  Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No one has ever made me laugh as much in my life as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.

‘I’m so proud and lucky that Viv was such a big part of my life everyday for the last five years. It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In musical theatre Viv had found a space and career they loved, excelled and thrived in. 

‘I am heartbroken and devastated at this news. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.’ 

The Vivienne’s ex-husband David Ludford also shared a heartfelt post on Instagram.

The ex-couple met in Gran Canaria in August 2017 and tied the knot at a lavish flower-filled ceremony at G-A-Y’s Heaven nightclub in London in 2019. They were together for six years before splitting in 2023.

Sharing a photo of the former couple together on Instagram, David wrote: ‘My heart literally sank when I got the call! My heart is shattered! Never in a million years did I think I’d ever be writing anything like this about

‘This man changed my life so much from the day we first met in August 2017 in Gran Canaria!!

‘We literally clicked straight away and we knew we was going to be together for along time!! He made me feel love and shown me what it was really like to love someone.

‘We literally went through and did so much together it was like a whirlwind and I wouldn’t have changed the time we spent together for anything In The world!!!

‘I feel like a tit feeling this upset and hurt because we have been fully divorced for just over a year now but we was together 6 year and we loved each other so much and you can’t take away.

‘I’m so happy to say I not only met you but we was together, we was husbands and you was the biggest part of my left for such a long time! 6 years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with you will always always have a place in my heart.’

‘Going to miss you more than people will ever know sleep tight angel.’

When the couple split in 2023, they told MailOnline: ‘As many may have noticed, David and I have been apart recently. We have made the decision to part ways after an amazing 5 and half years.

‘We are still very much friends, but sometimes life gets in the way and people grow apart.

‘We wish each the absolute best and will always be part of each other’s lives. We’d ask that you please respect our privacy at this time. Thank you. James and David’.

It comes after police yesterday confirmed that there were ‘no suspicious circumstances’ with the star’s death.

Cheshire Police said officers were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘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.’

Williams grew up in Colwyn Bay, Wales,  watching Lily Savage on TV, citing that as their first exposure to drag.

Describing Wales as a ‘big-fish-in-a-small-pond situation’, the star moved to Liverpool aged 16 to pursue a career as a makeup artist, first working on the beauty counter in Debenhams.

It was there that they earned their nickname The Vivienne for dressing entirely in Vivienne Westwood, developing their budding passion for drag while going out with friends in the evenings.

In 2019, the budding star auditioned for and went on to win the first series of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’.

Leaping from one career triumph to the next, Williams then appeared on the seventh season of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars’ as The Vivienne, before becoming a finalist in ‘Dancing on Ice’ in 2023, where viewers branded them a ‘star’.

Following their win, The Vivienne went on to host an online chat show where celebrities joined her to chat about series’ of the show, before they ventured in musical theatre.

But amid their rise to fame, Williams also battled with drug addiction – something they openly spoke about in the past.

Williams previously said: ‘It was party drugs – but I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party.’

After acknowledging they needed to seek help, Williams underwent treatment at The Armistead Centre in Liverpool.

As friends and fans were are reeling by The Vivienne’s death, RuPaul is facing calls to take a ‘powerful’ stand against season two winner Tyra Sanchez after she made ‘disgusting’ comments about the drag star’s death.

In the wake of tragic news, Sanchez, whose real name is James Ross, took to X to share a series of nasty tweets in response to a 2020 message written by The Vivienne. 

The Vivienne’s old tweet from nearly five years ago said: ‘Bet Tyra was fuming when she Realised Netflix Spoiled the win Too. Sorry gal. You Tried though.’

Digging up the historical tweet on Sunday, Sanchez wrote: ‘Yet it doesn’t compare to the fumes of the crematorium.’

After sparking a backlash, they added: ‘She’s dead. Rotting. Sending me all the hate in the world won’t bring her back. But do as you must. Because of you the tweet has reached over 25k individuals. Thanks for the much needed attention that I oh so desperately needed.’

The shock comments received a flurry of criticism from furious fans and now Drag Race host RuPaul has been urged to strip Sanchez, formerly known as King Tyra, of her crown following her win on the second season of the US show back in 2010.

RuPaul paid his own tribute on Tuesday, penning:  “I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne, an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being.’