RuPaul has broken his silence in public for the first time since the death of The Vivienne as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner’s death last week at the age of 32 has plunged the drag community into mourning.
RuPaul, 64, who discovered the Welsh-born performer, real name James Lee Williams, on season one of his hit BBC show, appeared visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage by his side, who wore a mini dress with ‘The Vivienne’ emblazoned across it.
He told the audience of DragCon UK: ‘We are here to celebrate life and celebrate love and to spread it around. We want to focus on love’.
‘We are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love and life, because that’s what she was all about and she would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and spread it around.’
Organisers set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousand of fans who are expected to attend the event over the weekend can remember the late entertainer who won the show’s UK series back in 2019.
RuPaul has broken his silence in public for the first time since the death of The Vivienne as he opened DragCon UK at the ExCel London on Friday
The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner’s death last week at the age of 32 has plunged the drag community into mourning
RuPaul, 64, who discovered the Welsh-born performer on season one of his hit BBC show, appeared visibly emotional with his best friend Michelle Visage (L) by his side
Some of the heartfelt messages read: ‘The UK winner’s circle has lost it’s crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you’.
While others said: ‘Thank you for sharing your love and light with us’ we will miss you’: ‘You made such a big impact in many people’s lives, rest in peace’: ‘Thanks Viv for sharing your smile talent and light’.
Following the Vivienne’s death last week a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said officers were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
‘Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances,’ said a police spokesman. ‘A file will be prepared for the coroner.’
It comes as RuPaul is weighing up his future on the BBC show which has been broadcasting since 2019.
Friends have RuPaul said he was ‘absolutely devastated’ by The Viv’s death and has been in bits about the sudden loss.
The tragedy has weighed so heavily on the presenter that he is now ‘seriously considering’ stepping away from his hosting duties on the show.
A friend of the star said: ‘This has come like a bolt out of the blue for Ru. The Vivienne was one of his brightest stars and everyone knows what a soft spot he had for them. He has been left absolutely devastated by their passing and is now weighing up his own future.
He told the audience of DragCon UK: ‘We are here to celebrate life and celebrate love and to spread it around. We want to focus on love’ (pictured together in 2020)
Organisers set up a memorial wall and memorial books where the thousand of fans who are expected to attend the event over the weekend can remember the late entertainer
Some of the heartfelt messages read: ‘The UK winner’s circle has lost it’s crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you’
‘Ru is now seriously considering standing down from hosting the UK franchise, which will always be associated with The Viv.’
Sources said that the American drag queen has confided in those close to him that his filming schedule is packed and he ‘isn’t getting any younger’ and he believes the show is in ‘good hands’ with his co-presenters Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.
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