The Vivienne's sister on 'stigma' that stopped drag queen seeking help before death

North Wales Live

22-04-2025

The sister of The Vivienne has raised questions about whether the "stigma" surrounding drug use prevented her sibling from seeking help. Drag queen James Lee Williams, who was crowned the winner of the inaugural series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, tragically died at his Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire home on January 5 after consuming ketamine, aged just 32.
Speaking to BBC Two's Newsnight, Chanel Williams revealed that The Vivienne did not disclose their relapse, which included a hospital stay, in order to "to protect them", following "a really long period of sobriety".
"It's hard for me because I think, if that stigma wasn't there, would my brother have sought the help he needed?" she pondered.
"To think that, if we'd known, or if he'd have felt able to talk and really reach out for the help that was needed, the outcome could've been different.
"That's why we've shared James's story."
In March, the family disclosed that the drag queen's death was due to "from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest", in an effort to raise awareness. They also announced plans to collaborate with drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns.
"He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about t he battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that," Ms Williams added.
"He was at the height of everything he was doing and I think, because he'd said it in such an open platform, it's really difficult to come back and say you're struggling again."
She also stated that the classification of ketamine should be upgraded from Class B to Class A, as people "think it's less harmful than other drugs", alongside other measures to combat addiction.
She continued: "But it's not just about reclassification... it needs to include education, police, health, to really raise awareness. We need a strategy around drug usage and drug deaths in the UK."
The Government is currently seeking expert advice following a surge in the illegal use of ketamine to record levels.
While appearing on the BBC show, The Vivienne from Colwyn Bay, North Wales opened up about her four-year struggle with drug addiction, describing it as a "habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard".
Reflecting on their journey to sobriety, the star of musical theatre and Dancing On Ice said: "I had to be kicked out of my house and told that I would be dead by the time I was 30.
"It was the loneliest part of my life. I was killing myself... and my family don't even know. I was pissing my life up the wall and I could've been dead now if I didn't do anything about it."
An inquest into their death has been opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with the full proceedings scheduled for June 30.
According to Home Office statistics, in the year ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 individuals aged between 16 and 59 reported using ketamine, which is currently classified as a Class B substance.
The UK's national anti-drug advisory service, Frank, describes the substance as a general anaesthetic that can induce a dream-like state, leaving users feeling detached, chilled, and happy, but also potentially confused and nauseated.
In January, Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson reached out to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to voice the Government's concerns about the rising use of ketamine among young people and to request a reassessment of its classification.
A spokesperson for the Home Office expressed their condolences, stating: "Our thoughts are with James's family and friends, and all those affected by this tragic death, which has sadly reinforced once again the serious dangers of taking ketamine."
They added: "In January this year, the minister for policing and crime prevention wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs expressing the Government's concern about the growth in the use of ketamine, and asking them to consider whether to reclassify it as a Class A drug."
The spokesperson concluded: "We will not hesitate to act when the ACMD reports back, and, in the meantime, we will continue to work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply."