30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The Vivienne lay dead in bath for days before they were found
The Vivienne lay dead in bath for days before they were found
The Drag Race star had taken ketamine before their death, an inquest was told
The Vivienne had taken ketamine and suffered a cardio respiratory arrest
(Image: Getty Images for VH1/Paramount + )
Drag Race star The Vivienne has taken ketamine before they were found dead in the bath by a neighbour, an inquest heard today.
The Vivienne is thought to have laid in the bath for several days before they were found after their neighbour became concerned. The hearing was told that the popular drag queen had died from misadventure after suffering cardio respiratory arrest after taking ketamine.
The performer, whose real name was James Lee Williams, 32, was found in the bath at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on Sunday January 5.
The Vivienne was originally from Colwyn Bay, north Wales, and attended Rydal Penrhos but moved to Liverpool aged 16 to become a makeup artist. They took the name The Vivienne because they liked wearing Vivienne Westwood clothes.
The last time anyone had contact with them was on the previous Friday evening, when their friend, Bobby Musker, told Warrington Coroner's Court it was evident the entertainer had taken ketamine.
The inquest into their death heard that five drug snap bags were found in the property, including in a bedroom draw and a bin in the bathroom.
Article continues below
Although the performer had struggled with drugs in the past, Williams' family told the hearing they should not be remembered for their use of ketamine and that drugs did not define the person they were.
Friends and family had no worries about Williams' mental health, the hearing was told, and the performer was looking forward to future roles on TV and in the theatre, although did 'occasionally' take ketamine.
Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, concluding the inquest, said: 'The medical cause of death is cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use.
Article continues below
'The conclusion, on the balance of probabilities, I'm satisfied that James Williams' death was a misadventure, he took ketamine but he did not intend to take his own life.'
Williams was the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and years later admitted having been a drug addict.
An officer of the coroner's court told media that Williams' family would like the media to use 'they/them' pronouns for their loved one.
