Published March 18, 2025 11:04am
The Vivienne, winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” 2019, died of cardiac arrest in January after taking ketamine, their family confirmed on BBC.
According to their sister Chanel Williams, their family “continue to be completely devastated” following the death of the drag artist.
Meanwhile, The Vivienne’s manager, Simon Jones, confirmed to PEOPLE, that the performer died “from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest.”
“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,” Jones said.
Jones also said a “formal inquest” into The Vivienne’s death is set to take place in June.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” paid tribute to The Vivienne through an Instagram post in January.
“[Their] talent, humor, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration,” the show wrote.
“[They] will be dearly missed, but [their] legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity – [they] embodied what it means to be a true champion,” they added.
— Hermes Joy Tunac/LA, GMA Integrated News