RuPaul broke his silence publicly for the first time since The Vivienne’s death as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday.
The death of the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK last week at the age of 32 has left the drag community in mourning.
RuPaul, 64, who discovered Welsh-born artist, real name James Lee Williams, in season one of his hit BBC show, he looked visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage by his side, wearing a mini dress with ‘The Vivienne’ embroidered on it.
He told the audience at DragCon UK: “We are here to celebrate and spread life and love. We want to focus on love’.
“We’re going to remember our dear Vivienne with love and life because that’s what she was all about and she would want you to live your life and be free and have a lot of fun and spread that.”
Organizers have set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousands of fans expected to attend the event this weekend can remember the late entertainer who won the British series of the show in 2019.
RuPaul broke his silence publicly for the first time since The Vivienne’s death as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday
The death of the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner last week at the age of 32 has left the drag community in mourning
RuPaul, 64, who discovered the Welsh-born artist on season one of his hit BBC show, looked visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage (L) by his side
Some of the heartfelt messages read: ‘The British Winners’ Circle has lost its crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you.”
While others said: ‘Thank you for sharing your love and light with us, we will miss you’: ‘You have made such a big impact in the lives of many people, rest in peace’: ‘Thank you Viv for sharing of your talent for smiling and light’.
Following Vivienne’s death last week, a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said officers were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford at 12.22am on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
“Police attended the scene, investigated the circumstances surrounding the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances,” a police spokesperson said. “A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
On Wednesday, RuPaul hit back at fellow drag star Tyra Sanchez, posting a controversial tweet about The Vivienne.
Sanchez, real name James Ross, took to The Vivienne almost five years ago and responded to news of the shocking death with a scathing joke about the late artist.
Sanchez reposted a tweet from The Vivienne from July 2020, in which the latter wrote: “Bet Tyra was furious when she realized Netflix had spoiled the win too. Sorry girl. But you tried.’ Quoting the tweet, Sanchez replied, “Still, it doesn’t compare to the fumes from the crematorium.”
Sanchez, another Drag Race alum, received vocal backlash on social media from fans of The Vivienne who were outraged by the post.
He told the audience at DragCon UK: “We are here to celebrate and spread life and love. We want to focus on love’ (pictured together in 2020)
Organizers have set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousands of fans expected to attend the event this weekend can remember the late entertainer
Some of the heartfelt messages read: ‘The British Winners’ Circle has lost its crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you’
Amid the furor, RuPaul posted a throwback video to Instagram on Wednesday in which he pretended to punch Sanchez during an acting challenge on Drag Race.
As news of The Vivienne’s death caused an outpouring of grief among fans, Sanchez, winner of the US version of the program in 2010, took to social media to discuss a nearly five-year social media feud with The Vivienne rather revive it by posting her crematorium tweet. .
Receiving criticism from fans and fellow drag stars alike, Sanchez was unrepentant, writing on social media the next day: ‘She’s dead. Rotting. Sending me all the hate in the world won’t bring her back. But do what you have to do.
‘Thanks to you, the tweet reached more than 25,000 people. Thank you for the much-needed attention I so desperately needed.”
And despite further criticism, with I owned a crematorium. .’
The soundtrack to the post was the Alicia Keys hit Girl on Fire.
Social media users reacted furiously again, variously labeling Sanchez as “disgusting,” “despicable” and “sad.”
It comes as RuPaul weighs up his future on the BBC show which has been airing since 2019.
Friends have told RuPaul he was ‘absolutely devastated’ by The Viv’s death and was divided over the sudden loss.
The tragedy has weighed so heavily on the presenter that he is now ‘seriously considering’ relinquishing his duties as host of the show.
A friend of the star said: ‘This has come as a bolt from the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them. He has been left devastated by their deaths and is now considering his own future.
‘Ru is now seriously considering withdrawing from hosting the British franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv.’
Sources said the American drag queen has confided in those close to him that his filming schedule is packed and he is “not getting any younger” and that he believes the show is in “good hands” with his co-hosts Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.