Vivian’s family say ‘we are very proud’ to have received the green light

Drag icon The Vivian’s family said she “brought a spark of life” and will be “forever” missed during an emotional vigil in Liverpool on Sunday night.

Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of St George’s Hall to pay their respects to the TV star, also known as James Lee Williams. who died last week at the age of 32..

The landmark was lit green to honor The Vivian’s role in the Wizard of Oz, and the crowd waved their phone flashlights to a moving rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Vivian rose to fame in 2019 after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

“As a family we are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for James, The Vivian,” the family said in a statement read by The Vivian’s friend Bobby Musker.

The family paid tribute to a “son, brother, uncle and true icon”.

“It was clear from an early age that he was destined for the stage … he was determined to make his own way in this world,” she said.

“The road wasn’t easy but the dream never wavered and James always told us he would make it happen and he did.”

The family said they were “incredibly proud of everything”.

“We will miss you forever and we will all love you forever,” he said.

Shortly before the statement was read, The Vivian’s young niece, Isabella, took the microphone.

“Thanks for coming here to celebrate my uncle,” she told the crowd. “I love you Uncle James.”

The crowd heard a performance by Joey and the Hot Tub Boys, who sang Cher’s Heart of Stone and David Bowie’s Heroes, and heard speeches from many friends and colleagues.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series four winner Danny Beard described The Vivian as a “larger-than-life” character who “can never be confined to the ordinary”.

He described her as “a shining beacon of light for the LGBT community”.

“Performances were not just acting, they were celebrations of life,” He said.

“They taught us that it’s okay to live out loud.”

The vigil was organized with the help of Sahir House, Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity. Vivian was an ambassador for the charity.

Simon Jones, The Vivian’s publicist and friend, told the BBC: “I will remember The Vivian as a truly kind, lovely person as well as the most amazing talent.

“What I loved most about Vivian was that she made me laugh the whole time.

“There’s really no one who made me laugh like Viv, whether it was at a show where she was reading to the audience…or when we were going to lunch or dinner or hanging out.

“There was always a quick one-liner and something a little bit savage.

“She was always hilarious and I will truly miss her. She brought so much love and warmth to my life.”

Presenter Holly Willoughby paid tribute to drag queen The Vivian after the professional skaters’ opening performance in the ITV series Dancing on Ice on Saturday night.

The program began with a display of lifts and jumps by figure skaters dressed in pink, blue and yellow.

After Willoughby welcomed viewers to the new series, he added: “Before we go any further, like us, many of you will be saddened by the tragic death of The Vivian last weekend. The news must have been sad.

“They were now a huge part of our show, which made it to the final in 2023.

“He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Vivian’s loved ones at this time. Very sad.”

After winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, The Vivienne became the only contestant from the UK series to take part in All Stars 7 in 2022.

He became a household name through appearances on other TV shows including Ant and December’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Dancing on Ice and Emmerdale.

Vivian’s death caused an outpouring of grief from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

Most of the show’s contestants attended DragCon UK, a convention for drag race fans, on Friday.

Host RuPaul Charles paid tribute to The Vivienne during the event’s opening ceremony, saying he wanted to focus on “love”.

He said: “We’re going to miss our dear The Vivian with love, with life, and that’s what she was all about.

“She would love for you to live your life and be free and have a lot of fun and spread it around, isn’t that right?”

Other high-profile names to pay tribute include Drag Race judge Michelle Visage and singer and actor Ariana Grande.

Vivian grew up in Colwyn Bay on the north coast of Wales.

He attended the private school Rydal Penrhos but left at 16 to move to Liverpool and become a make-up artist.

He later went to live and perform in Gran Canaria. A vigil was held on the Spanish island to coincide with the Liverpool event.