RuPaul has broken his silence on the sudden death of The Vivienne – the first-ever winner of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.’
via: EW
The Emmy-winning host and producer of the global Drag Race series posted Monday to Instagram a throwback photo of herself on the Main Stage with The Vivienne, and honored the star in the photo's caption.
"With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne," RuPaul wrote, finishing the post by calling the late entertainer "an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being."
Including The Vivienne, five Drag Race franchise queens have died since the series launched in 2009. Drag Race Thailand competitor Bandit died in 2023, with hers following the deaths of season 2 contestant Sahara Davenport in 2012, season 8 and All Stars 3 queen Chi Chi DeVayne in 2020, and Drag Race UK competitor Cherry Valentine in 2022.
Prior to crowning The Vivienne as the Drag Race UK season 1 winner in 2019, RuPaul named the queen as the official Drag Race ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Prior to her death, The Vivienne returned to compete on Drag Race as part of the All Stars 7 cast in 2022, marking the first time the show gathered a group of past winners competing to become the first queen to win the show twice.
All of The Vivienne's fellow All Stars 7 queens also mourned her death on social media, including season 3 champ Raja, season 5's Jinkx Monsoon, season 11 victor Yvie Oddly, season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall, All Stars 4 champions Trinity The Tuck and Monét X Change, and All Stars 5 winner Shea Couleé.
"I can’t thank you enough for your light! I don’t even know what to say rn. I just know you were such an incredible person to everyone around you and you made real space for me. I’m going to miss you so much @thevivienne_," Jaida wrote on Instagram, while Trinity shared that she "had the best of times" with The Vivienne across their friendship.
Raja hosted a tearful Instagram Live session on Sunday, shortly after news of The Vivienne's death circulated online, in which she mourned her friend and celebrated their time together, as did Shea in a heartfelt Instagram post.
"This is an incredibly hard one. When I heard the news I climbed into the bed, pulled the covers over my head, and went to sleep hoping it was just a dream. There aren’t enough words to describe your impact on not only me, but the entire drag landscape," Shea posted. "Your joy, humor, and supportive sisterhood will stay with me forever. Like a handprint on my heart. Hoping and looking forward to when our celestial paths cross. Until then, love you dearly sister. You really were one of a kind."
Longtime RuPaul's Drag Race judge Michelle Visage additionally reacted to the news as "heartbreaking," and shared a photo of herself and The Vivienne to her Instagram profile after the news broke.
"I don’t know how to say how I feel. My darling @thevivienne_ we go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point. Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all," Visage wrote. "You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times. I love you my darling. You will be so missed my lovely. May your light shine fiercely, forever. RIP MY ANGEL fly high."
On stage, the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Live! dedicated Sunday night's performance of their Las Vegas show to The Vivienne, with the audience clapping at the gesture.
The Vivienne's publicist, Simon Jones, first announced his client's death on social media, stressing that he would not share further details on the 32-year-old's cause of death.
Representatives for The Vivienne did not respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.
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