The cause of death of The Vivienne, the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 1, has been confirmed.
Simon Jones, The Vivienne's manager and publicist, shared with Attitude Magazine Monday that Williams' death was "from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest."
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"I hope that by us releasing this information, we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do to your body," said Jones in a statement. "Ketamine usage is on the rise, particularly amongst young people, and I don’t think the full dangers of the drug are being discussed."
Ketamine is a dissociative originally developed as an anesthetic for surgeries and pain management, but it also has psychedelic and dissociative effects. In recent years, the drug's recreational popularity — particularly within the queer community — has sparked debates over its safety. Notably, Friends star Matthew Perry died in 2023 after taking lethal doses.
The Vivienne, whose real name is James Lee Williams, died on January 5, 2025 in their home in Chester, U.K. Their body was discovered in the bathroom Sunday morning. They were 32 years old.
"It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend," read a statement shared by Jones after the death. "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."
At the time, Jones said the family would "not be releasing any further details," but police initially opened an inquest into The Vivienne's passing due to an "unnatural cause of death." One week later, local law enforcement stated that there were "no suspicious circumstances," but the coroner investigation is ongoing until June 30.
The Vivienne is loved around the world, reaching an audience outside of the U.K. when she competed on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8and openly joked about her struggle with addiction.
The Vivienne's passing sparked an outpouring of grief in the drag community. "With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne — an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being," said RuPaul. "Thank you for sharing your light with all of us," wrote Season 6 winner Bianca Del Rio.
