The vigil is being organised by Sahir House and The Vivienne’s family
Sahir House’s John Hyland with James Lee Williams, known to many up and down the country as their drag persona, The Vivienne.(Image: John Hyland)
A vigil is being held in Liverpool to pay respect to drag trailblazer The Vivienne. The news of the 32-year-old’s death over the weekend was confirmed by their publicist, Simon Jones.
In an emotional Instagram post, he explained how the renowned Cher impersonator, who began their career on the Pride Quarter’s Stanley Street, was more than just a client but also a friend. Simon said: “James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted 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.”
Sahir House, Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity and one The Vivienne was an ambassador of, has been working alongside the TV star’s family to create the event
John Hyland, a long-term friend of The Vivienne, whose real name is James Lee Williams, and Sahir’s community partnerships lead, told the ECHO: “Liverpool is synonymous for its ability to come together in difficult times and support one another.
The Vivienne, known as James Lee Williams out of drag, has died aged 32(Image: PA)
“We have been working closely with James’ family and close friends to create a space where Liverpool and our friends across the country can come together to grieve, celebrate James’ life and say goodbye. We ask that all who are able to join us continue to respect his family’s wishes and their privacy.”
The vigil will be taking place on Sunday, January 12, at 6pm. The location has yet to be confirmed. The Vivienne’s last Instagram post was dedicated to Sahir House as they asked fans to give back to the charity to allow them to continue with their incredible work. The 32-year-old’s last Liverpool appearance was also for the charity. In December in Superstar Boudoir, the prodigy competed against other performers in a local version of Snatch Game, where they impersonated Donald Trump.