Drag Race Star The Vivienne Died by ‘Misadventure’, Inquest Finds

An inquest has found drag queen The Vivienne did not intend to take their life when they died after taking ketamine.

via: Pink News

The inquest into the death of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne heard that the star had a “relatively high” level of ketamine in their system at the time of death.

The star, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died in January at the age of 32.

The inquest was opened and adjourned in February after coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar was told the star was found dead in the bathroom of their home. “Post-mortem testing has been undertaken, identifying an unnatural cause of death,” she said at the time.

Now, the Liverpool Echo has reported that forensic toxicologist Dr Kerry Taylor told Cheshire Coroner’s Court on Monday morning (30 June) that James had a “relatively high” level of ketamine in their body at the time of death, suggesting “moderate to excessive use at some point prior to death”.

Ketamine, versions of which have been prescribed for depression, can lead to drowsiness, seizures and cardiac effects, Taylor added.

Pathologist Dr David Butterworth, who carried out the post-mortem said: “In my opinion, the cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use,” the newspaper went on to report.

James’ sister Chanel told the court: “We acknowledge that James’ death is as a result of drug use but we wholeheartedly know that was not their intention. They loved life, they loved their family and friends and they loved their career.”

The star’s father, Lee, told the proceedings that his son had a “quiet and private life,” adding: “He never turned his back on anyone. He wanted to help his community, to help other drag queens achieve their goals.”

A friend and neighbour said The Vivienne was “amazing,” adding that the pair has become “really good friends” before she knew of the star’s fame.

Best friend Bobby Muske is reported to have said: “James was the kindest person I knew. He would help everyone, he would help charities, do gigs for nothing. He supported Sahir House a lot, an Aids charity in Liverpool.

“He was fiery sometimes. If he wanted to do something, he was going to do it. That was the way he was.”

The coroner said the medical cause of death would be recorded as cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use.

Delivering her verdict, Edgar added: “On the balance of probabilities, I am satisfied that James Lee Williams’ death was a misadventure. He took ketamine but he did not intend to end his own life.”

Police had been called to the performer’s home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on 5 January, but it was likely that James died on Friday evening and was not found and pronounced dead until the Sunday. The toxicology results showed that there was still a fairly high amount of ketamine in James’ system when they were found, suggesting an “acute overdose”, she added.

When news of The Vivienne’s death broke, her publicist Simon Jones described the drag performer as “incredibly loved.”

The star’s death was met with a wave of grief and shock and the family said they had been overwhelmed by the love and support at a vigil later that month.

RuPaul took a moment to honour the queen during DragCon UK in January, saying: “We want to focus on love, and we are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love, life, happiness, because that’s what she was all about.”

In other news regarding The Vivienne, the Daily Mail is reporting that the drag icon was found dead in the bathtub by a neighbor after worried friends had struggled to get in contact, an inquest heard today.

The reality TV star was discovered with five empty 'snap bags' of ketamine in the house, the coroner was told.

A friend said the drag queen - whose real name was James Lee Williams and used pronouns they and them - had been sober for years but had recently relapsed.

When no-one could get hold of the star neighbour Janine Godbold had been forced to use her spare key to get in.

She sobbed as she told coroner Jacqueline Devonish she found The Vivienne dead in the bath, 'looking asleep'.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, the inquest heard the performer had likely died two days before being found. Toxicology evidence found The Vivienne had an 'acute overdose' of ketamine, causing cardiac respiratory arrest.

One of The Vivienne's friends Bobby Musker told how the star had suffered a relapse after years of sobriety.

He said while he was aware of his friend's substance use, 'drugs didn't define them as a person because he'd done so much more than that'.

He added: 'I don't want the public to see him just for what's happened with his drug use because that wasn't what defined him.'

Mr Musker said he had spoken to his friend by videocall on the evening of Friday January 3, and knew the star had taken drugs. He said: 'I've seen him on the drugs, I can tell.'

Mr Musker said that he had exchanged previous messages and videos – one of them singing a song from stage show Cabaret in which James was due to appear in London's West End, others mentioned them going to Liverpool.

'He mentioned he'd been to Liverpool a few times. I knew he'd been to get ketamine,' he said.

He told how he had known James had taken ketamine years before and 'struggled with sobriety' but that he went for several years without using the drug.

He added he did not know when the entertainer relapsed, adding: 'He didn't want to take it (but) I knew he wasn't sober. He didn't want to be taking it.'

Mr Musker said his friend – who was on a six-week break from appearing as the Child Catcher in a touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - had never given any indication of self-harm and was looking forward to Cabaret as well as a 'big production of Lily Savage's life story'.

Ms Devonish said: 'So things were looking good for him, he had a lot to look forward to, he never self-harmed in any way?

Mr Musker replied: 'No'.

Mr Musker told how on January 5, he received calls from The Vivienne's manager Simon Jones, who had not been able to get hold of him, and rang their sister Chanel who had been due to see them on January 4 but he did not show.

The inquest heard the weather had been bad with snow lying on the ground, however.

Mr Musker said he decided to call The Vivienne's neighbour Janine Godbold because he knew she had a key.

After Ms Godbold and her son went round, they rang them back. Mr Musker said: 'I could hear Ryan or Jan shouting, he's in the bath, he's in the bath.'

Mr Musker then drove from his home in Southport, Merseyside, to The Vivienne's home, arriving to find emergency services there.

Extending condolences to the family, the coroner said: 'I am satisfied that James Williams' death was a death by misadventure. He wasn't taking drugs every day. It was occasional and the focus should be on him because drugs did not define the person he was.'

Before the verdict, The Vivienne's sister Chanel said: 'We acknowledge James's death was as a result of drug use. We wholeheartedly know the outcome of James's death was in no way James's intention.

'He loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved his career. We feel the conclusion should be misadventure.'