Coroner releases ruling on death of Drag Race star The Vivienne
The popular performer was found dead in their bath tub
The Vivienne, the acclaimed drag queen performer, died from misadventure after suffering cardio-respiratory arrest caused by ketamine use, a coroner has ruled.
James Lee Williams, 32, was discovered in the bath by a neighbour at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on Sunday 5 January.
Warrington Coroner’s Court heard that the last contact anyone had with them was on the preceding Friday evening.
Their friend, Bobby Musker, told the inquest it was evident the entertainer had taken ketamine at that time.
The hearing also revealed that five drug snap bags were found within the property, including in a bedroom drawer and a bathroom bin.
While the performer had struggled with drugs in the past, Williams’ family told the court that they should not be remembered solely for their ketamine use, stating that "drugs did not define the person they were”.
Friends and family had no worries about Williams’ mental health, the hearing was told.
The performer was looking forward to future roles on TV and in the theatre, although did “occasionally” take ketamine.
Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, concluding the inquest, said: “The medical cause of death is cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use.
“The conclusion, on the balance of probabilities, I’m satisfied that James Williams’ death was a misadventure.”
The drag performer “did not intend” to take their life, the coroner said.
Williams, who was born in St Asaph, North Wales, was the winner of the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and admitted having been a drug addict.
The coroner said Williams had probably died in the bath on the Friday evening after taking ketamine.
“However, the toxicology results indicate that the concentration found in the post-mortem, despite two days having lapsed, was still fairly high, which suggests [they] may have reached a fatal level on the Friday. I would describe that concentration as acute.”
The inquest heard medical records showed that Williams had struggled with drug use in the past, including with the use of ketamine, cocaine and alcohol.
However, they stopped taking drugs for a number of years and did not routinely take ketamine before their death.
Musker, who described himself as Williams’ best friend, said he could tell the TV star was on ketamine when he spoke to them in a video call on Friday evening.
Williams “struggled” with sobriety, but tried their hardest not to do drugs, Musker said.
“It was not a constant thing.”
Musker said he understood his friend planned to get a takeaway meal and have a bath.
But he alerted Williams’ neighbour, Janine Godbold, to go to the house around lunchtime on Sunday, after concern over a lack of contact.
Godbold, who had a spare key to the home, said Williams looked like they were “sleeping” when she found them in the bath.
She broke down in tears recounting the scene, saying she “kept hold” of the entertainer and kept talking to them.
Dr David Butterworth, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem, said there was no evidence of drowning.