Latest news with #JamesLeeWilliams
Metro
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Vivienne kept ketamine addiction secret from family to 'protect them'
The family of James Lee Williams, known as drag queen The Vivienne, have revealed that Williams kept their addiction a secret in order to protect them. The performer, real name James Lee Williams, died on January 5 at the age of 32. Williams' body was found in the bathroom of their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester. The star's cause of death was later revealed in March as a result of 'effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest.' In a new interview with BBC Newsnight, Chanel Williams, 35, revealed that Williams, 32, kept their ketamine addiction a secret from their family to 'protect them'. Chanel revealed in the interview that her brother had a 'really long period of sobriety' before relapsing, and her family had learned about The Vivienne's addiction battles while watching Drag Race. 'I think the first time we even knew that my brother had previously battled with any ketamine addiction was when he appeared on Drag Race. 'So we learned that at the same time as the rest of the nation really, and it was so heartbreaking to know what he'd been through, what he'd been through during that addiction period and had not been able to seek help or speak to us. 'And we had no idea at the point that he passed away that it had become an issue again in his life.' She added: 'A big thing for me now is, had I asked the questions or just looked for the signs, would the outcome be different?' 'He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that.' '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.' A full inquest has been scheduled to look into Williams' death, but police have confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances following the star's death. Since revealing that Williams died from a ketamine-related issue, the star's family has worked with a substance abuse charity named Adferiad to tackle the stigma surrounding the drug. 'It's hard for me because I think if that stigma wasn't there, would my brother have sought the help he needed? '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.' She added that a key part is to campaign for the government to re-classify ketamine from a Class B drug to Class A, putting it in the same band as cocaine and heroin, not amphetamines and cannabis. 'There's a portion of younger people that maybe look at that classification and think it's less harmful than other drugs,' she says. '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.' Speaking about this mission further on social media, she said on social media last month that this campaign is helping the family 'find a way forward.' Posting a statement on Instagram, she began by sharing: 'The sudden passing of my brother, James, known to many as The Vivienne, has left our family heartbroken and struggling to find our way forward. Sharing his story has not been easy, but we believe it is essential to honour his memory and help others who may be facing similar challenges. She concluded the lengthy post: 'While sharing James' story has been incredibly difficult, we hope that by doing so, we can shed light on these important issues and help others on their journeys. More Trending 'In doing this work, we strive to keep James' legacy alive and make a difference for others. 'James loved life and lived it to the maximum; full of love and laughter. This is, and always will be, for him. Thank you for your support as we embark on this journey to raise awareness and promote change in memory of our beloved James /The Vivienne.' View More » BBC Newsnight is on weekdays at 10:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Drag Race star leads tributes to The Vivienne on first birthday after their death MORE: Lily Phillips' Newsnight comments are more dangerous than her challenges MORE: Lily Phillips reveals she watched porn as a child in shock Newsnight interview
Powys County Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use ‘stigma' stopped them seeking help
The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the 'stigma' around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on January 5 after taking ketamine at the age of 32. Chanel Williams told BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, '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 said. '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.' The family revealed in March that the drag queen died 'from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest', to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. 'He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that,' Ms Williams said. '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 said the classification of ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A, because people 'think it's less harmful than other drugs', among other measures to tackle addiction. She added: '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 seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on the BBC show, Wales-born The Vivienne admitted having been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a 'habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard'. Reflecting on sobriety, the musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star 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 was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with a full inquest listed to take place on June 30. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of ketamine, which is controlled as Class B. The UK national anti-drug advisory service Frank says the substance is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body which can make users feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy, but also confused and nauseated. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in January to express the Government's concern over young people's ketamine use and call for the classification to be reassessed. A Home Office spokesman said: '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. '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. '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.'
North Wales Live
22-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
The Vivienne's sister on 'stigma' that stopped drag queen seeking help before death
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."
The Guardian
22-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The Vivienne's sister speaks out about drug use ‘stigma'
The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the 'stigma' around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, 32, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire on 5 January after taking ketamine. Chanel Williams told the BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, to 'protect' their family, after '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 said. '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.' The family revealed in March that Williams died 'from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest', to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. 'He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that,' Chanel said. '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.' Among other measures to tackle addiction, she also said ketamine should become class A rather than class B, because people 'think it's less harmful than other drugs'. She added: '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 seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on Drag Race, Welsh-born The Vivienne said they had been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a 'habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard'. In the UK, Action on Addiction is available on 0300 330 0659. In the US, call or text SAMHSA's National Helpline at 988. In Australia, the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline is at 1800 250 015; families and friends can seek help at Family Drug Support Australia at 1300 368 186.
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use ‘stigma' stopped them seeking help
The Vivienne's sister questions if drug use 'stigma' stopped them seeking help The Drag Race star died at home earlier this year The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the 'stigma' around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help (Image: PA Wire/PA Images ) The sister of The Vivienne has questioned whether the "stigma" around drug use stopped the drag queen from seeking help. James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, died at home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on January 5 after taking ketamine at the age of 32. Chanel Williams told BBC Two current affairs programme Newsnight that The Vivienne did not discuss their relapse, including a hospital stay, "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 said. "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. Article continues below "That's why we've shared James's story." The family revealed in March that the drag queen died "from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest", to raise awareness. They also said they would work with the drug charity Adferiad on future campaigns. "He'd spoken openly on Drag Race about the battles he'd had with addiction, and he'd come through the other side of that," Ms Williams said. "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 said the classification of ketamine should be moved from Class B to Class A, because people "think it's less harmful than other drugs", among other measures to tackle addiction. She added: "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 seeking expert advice after the illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels. While on the BBC show, Wales-born The Vivienne admitted having been a drug addict for four years, saying the addiction was a "habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard". Reflecting on sobriety, the musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star 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 was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, with a full inquest listed to take place on June 30. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of ketamine, which is controlled as Class B. The UK national anti-drug advisory service Frank says the substance is a general anaesthetic that reduces sensations in the body which can make users feel dream-like and detached, chilled, relaxed and happy, but also confused and nauseated. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in January to express the Government's concern over young people's ketamine use and call for the classification to be reassessed. Article continues below A Home Office spokesman said: "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. "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. "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."
