The best friend of James Lee Williams, better known as Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, has told an inquest they "don't want drugs to define who James was as a person". James Lee Williams, who won the first series of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK performing as their alter-ego in 2019, died in the bath at their home near Chester on 5 January this year. Giving evidence at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington, Bobby Musker told the court how he had last spoken to the drag performer via video call on the night of January 3. Senior Coroner Jacqueline Devonish recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure after the court heard Williams had suffered a cardiac arrest brought on by a ketamine overdose. Williams, who went by they/them and he/him pronouns, had spoken about their addiction struggles on an episode of Ru Paul's Drag Race - which his father Lee Williams told the court was the first their family had known about it. However he believed they had been successful staying sober, and their immediate family were unaware that they had relapsed. Mr Williams told the court: "He was just an outgoing character full-of-life. "He just wanted to give people laughs and help them on the way, and I think in a way he achieved that." The court had heard Williams appeared to have been dead since the evening of Friday January 3, when they had last spoken to their father and best friend of 16 years Bobby Musker. The 32-year-old star's body was found by their neighbour Janine Godbold, who sobbed in court as she recalled how they "looked like they were sleeping". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside onBBC Soundsand follow BBC Merseyside onFacebook,X, andInstagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight onBBC iPlayer.
'Drugs shouldn't define The Vivienne', friend says
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"Inquest Reveals Circumstances of Drag Race UK's The Vivienne's Death"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The inquest into the death of James Lee Williams, known as The Vivienne from Ru Paul's Drag Race UK, has revealed details surrounding the circumstances of his passing. Williams, who won the inaugural season of the show in 2019, was found deceased in his bath at his home near Chester on January 5, 2023. His close friend, Bobby Musker, testified at Cheshire Coroner's Court, emphasizing that he did not want drugs to define Williams' character. Musker recounted their last video call on January 3, shortly before Williams suffered a cardiac arrest due to a ketamine overdose. The coroner, Jacqueline Devonish, concluded that the death was a result of misadventure, highlighting the tragic turn of events that led to Williams' untimely demise at the age of 32.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Williams had openly discussed his struggles with addiction on the reality show, which was a revelation to his family. Despite their concerns, his father, Lee Williams, expressed a belief that his son had been managing to stay sober prior to his relapse. Musker described Williams as a vibrant and outgoing individual who aimed to bring joy to others, stating that he succeeded in making people laugh and supporting them throughout their lives. The details shared by Musker and the emotional testimonies from family and friends paint a picture of a beloved performer whose life was tragically cut short. The court also heard from a neighbor who discovered Williams, who appeared at peace, as if he were merely sleeping. This heart-wrenching account serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding addiction and the importance of understanding the person beyond their struggles with substance use.
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