The Vivienne told their friend where they hoped their future would go
The Vivienne at RuPaul’s DragCon UK 2020 at Olympia London(Image: 2020 Getty Images2020 Getty Images)
The Vivienne’s friend has said their life was “cut tragically short” before they were able to achieve a “huge dream they had”. Publicist Simon Jones confirmed the 32-year-old had died over the weekend in what Cheshire Police have said are no “suspicious circumstances”.
Simon posted an emotional Instagram tribute to the TV star, explaining how they were more than just a client but also a friend. He 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.
“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.
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“Their talent was immense, and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.”
Since then, tributes have been pouring in from all over the world and no more so than from Liverpool – the city where The Vivienne made a name for herself before being catapulted to fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.
The likes of fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard, ex-husband David Ludford and the company behind Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which The Vivienne was starring in as the Child Catcher just before the new year, have all spoken about how great the entertainer was.
The Vivienne at RuPaul’s Los Angeles DragCon at Los Angeles Convention Center on May 13, 2022(Image: 2022 Getty Images)
Most recently, Simon Jones told The Metro that he believes The Vivienne would “have become a huge award-winning musical theatre star and cross over to Broadway”. He said: “It was a huge dream they had. Viv loved musical theatre. It was a world where they felt comfortable and secure. They told me many times this is where they saw their future as an entertainer.”
In a statement on Monday, January 6, Cheshire Police said officers had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22 pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
The spokesman added: “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.”