DRAG Race stars are seen fighting back tears as they pay tribute to The Vivienne in the trailer for a new documentary about the late star.
James Lee Williams, 32, died from a cardiac arrest caused by the effects of taking the drug, it was revealed earlier this year.
The TV star, who won the first series of RuPaul ‘s Drag Race UK, was was found dead in the bath at home near Chester on January 5.
James, who went by the pronouns they/them, was discovered by a neighbour after worried friends were unable to get hold of them.
Now the first trailer for The Vivienne ‘s new documentary , which pays tribute to the much-loved star, has been released.
Called Dear Viv, the BBC film celebrates the life of James and also hears from people who knew and loved them.
The touching doc features interviews with their Drag Race friends, including Raja, Danny Beard , Michael Marouli, Cheryl Hole, Tia Kofi, and Baga Chipz .
In one particular heartbreaking moment, Raja is seen attempting to hold back tears while preparing to speak to the cameras.
Celebrity Big Brother star Danny Beard is also shown breaking down when asked to speak about James .
The tear-jerking trailer comes to an end with a message from Viv, who is heard saying: “It’s really nice to show people that you are a real person under all that glamour.”
FAMILY’S GRIEF
In April, James’ sister Chanel Williams opened about how their family “continue to be completely devastated”.
In a BBC Newsnight special, she candidly shared that the drag queen legend had hidden their substance struggles for years.
Chanel told how they only discovered James’ addiction after they opened up about it on RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2019.
At the time, the drag star said: “I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party, it was constant.”
They bravely revealed how Ketamine use saw them hospitalised three times in the space of a month.
The Vivienne was commended at the time for raising awareness of substance abuse while appearing on the show.
Despite staying sober for period of time, James’ family were unaware they had relapsed shortly before his death.
Chanel told the BBC: “Had I asked the questions or just looked for the signs, would the outcome be different?’
“He was at the height of everything he was doing and I think because he’d said it in such an open platform, it’s really difficult to come back and say you’re struggling again.”
The grieving sibling also questioned whether James’ fame made them feel they had to hide away amid their relapse.
Chanel continued: “To think that if we’d known, or if he’d have felt able to talk and really reach out for the help that was needed, the outcome could’ve been different.”
The family are now workin to raise awareness around the dangers of Ketamine – and see it changed to a Class A drug.
Ketamine is used by vets as a horse anaesthetic but is misused as a party drug.
STAR CAREER
James shot to fame six years ago, when they won the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The drag star went on to compete in an all-winners season of the franchise in the US in 2022 – the only Brit to do so.
James also starred on BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020 and appeared on Channel 4 ‘s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer two years later.They then came third place on Dancing on Ice in 2023.
