Liverpool mourns the loss of drag icon The Vivienne with a heartfelt vigil
Liverpool: Hundreds of folks came together in Liverpool to honor The Vivienne, a beloved drag star. The news of her passing at just 32 hit everyone hard, and it was confirmed by her publicist last weekend.
Since the announcement, tributes have been flooding in from all corners of the globe, especially from Liverpool, where The Vivienne, born James Lee Williams, made her mark.
People gathered outside St George’s Hall, which was lit up in green to celebrate her life. This was a nod to her role as the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, both on stage in the West End and during tours.
Other landmarks in the city also glowed green in her memory. It’s heartwarming to see how the community is coming together to remember this trailblazer, who started her journey on Stanley Street in the Pride Quarter and rose to fame after winning the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.
Bobby, a friend of The Vivienne, shared a touching tribute from James’ family. They expressed how proud they were of her achievements and how she brought light into their lives. It was a beautiful moment that really captured the love everyone felt.
Another performer, Tiara Fletcher, read a heartfelt letter she wrote to The Vivienne. Pete Price also shared his love for James, saying how powerful she was on stage. It was a bittersweet moment for everyone.
As the vigil went on, balloons were released while ‘For Good’ from Wicked played in the background. The night wrapped up with a moving performance of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow,’ leaving everyone with a sense of unity and love.
