Ex-husband of The Vivienne pays tribute to Drag Race star: 'My heart is shattered'
James Lee Williams’ ex-husband, David Ludford, said: “My heart literally sank when I got the call! My heart is shattered!”
The former partner of The Vivienne has said “my heart is shattered” following the death of the RuPaul’s Drag Race star.
James Lee Williams’ ex-husband, David Ludford, paid tribute on Instagram by posting photos from their wedding and throughout their six-year relationship.
The performer, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice, died aged 32 over the weekend.
READ MORE: The Vivienne cause of death update as police investigation findings revealed
READ MORE: The Vivienne's heartbreaking final social media post days before devastating death
In an emotional tribute, Ludford wrote: “My heart literally sank when I got the call! My heart is shattered!”
Ludford, a wig hairstylist, said Williams “changed my life so much” from the day they first met in in August 2017 in Gran Canaria.
“We literally clicked straight away and we knew we (were) going to be together for a long time,” Ludford wrote.
“He made me feel love and shown me what it was really like to love someone. We literally went through and did so much together, it was like a whirlwind and I wouldn’t have changed the time we spent together for anything in the world!”
The couple announced their separation in April 2023 with a joint statement which said they are “still very much friends” and wished each other “the absolute best”. Ludford added that they had “loved each other so much” and hailed Williams as “the biggest part” of their life for a long time.
“6 years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with you will always always have a place in my heart,” they wrote. “Going to miss you more than people will ever know sleep tight angel.”
The Vivienne’s professional skating partner on Dancing On Ice, Colin Grafton, said the performer “brought light into every room they entered and gave so many people hope where there was none”. The pair made history when Williams became the first drag act to reach the show’s finale and later placed third in the ITV skating competition.
“Viv was and is a true icon in every sense of the word, and inspired thousands of people far and wide with everything they did and accomplished”, American skater Grafton wrote alongside photos of the duo together.
He added: “I will always be so proud of what we accomplished. Viv, your spirit, strength, and kindness will always stay with me and with everyone you touched. I will forever cherish our time together on and off the ice, you will forever be my Mary Poppins.
“I promise to carry your memory with me in everything I do. You taught me so much about so many things, and I am eternally grateful. Your legacy lives on.”
Dancing On Ice remembered The Vivienne’s “unique vitality and fearless spirit” as the show paid tribute to the TV star in a social media post.
“Making TV history through their groundbreaking and spellbinding skating partnership with Colin Grafton, James’ unique vitality and fearless spirit entranced audiences week after week, as they became the first drag act to reach the final of the show”, the post said. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their family and friends.”
Northern Irish drag queen Blu Hydrangea, who competed against The Vivienne in the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, praised their co-star as a “class act, a mentor, an absolute superstar” and described them as “family”.
“You have inspired me and my drag from the moment I realised how hard it was going to be to keep up with you on Drag Race!”, added Blu Hydrangea, who won RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World.
“Sending love to those close to her and to those who followed and admired her. You are unforgettable; I will cherish our memories forever. Thanks for the laughs, Viv x.”
The news of Williams’s death was announced by their publicist, Simon Jones, on Sunday evening, who wrote that Williams was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”.
Mr Jones added that Williams, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, would be remembered for their “immense talent”, adding “the light they brought to every room was astonishing”.
Williams performed as the wicked witch of the west in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were due to be back on tour next month performing in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of the Childcatcher.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said officers had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
The spokesman said: “Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
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