RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
The Vivienne’s friends have paid tribute to the drag pro at an emotional vigil in Liverpool.
The TV star, real name James Lee Williams, who shot to fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, died at the age of 32 earlier this month.
On Sunday, friends and fans gathered to pay their respects at St George’s Hall which was lit up in green in a nod to the drag queen’s role playing the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard Of Oz musical.
Braved the cold tonight for the vigil for The Vivienne at St George’s Hall.
It was such a moving event, with some beautifully poignant speeches celebrating The Vivienne’s life and impact.
Well done to @JohnMHyland_ @SahirHouse and @thedannybeard. pic.twitter.com/rzgAmZYUGJ
— Paul Maddock (@Lgbt_lawyer) January 12, 2025
Drag queen Danny Beard said they had just come back from RuPaul’s Drag Con where “the love for Viv was really overwhelming”.
“I think this is what tonight should be about… a celebration of someone who touched the lives of so many,” they said.
“The Vivienne was one of the world’s most recognisable drag queens, proper world class entertainer.
“And above all a shining beacon in all of our lives and especially for the LGBT (community).
“She also used her platform to spread joy, advocate for acceptance, challenge stereotypes and to be a voice for those who need it.”
Another friend of the TV star remembered The Vivienne as a “legend” who was “always willing to experiment and push the boundaries of fashion, make-up and, of course, drag”.
Videos from the gathering show people letting off dozens of balloons as the song For Good from the musical Wicked plays.
The Vivienne finished third on Dancing On Ice in 2023 and was honoured on the skating show as the latest series started on Sunday evening.
Presenter Holly Willoughby said: “Many of you will have been saddened by the tragic news of The Vivienne’s passing last weekend.
“Now, they were a huge part of our show, making it all the way to the final in 2023. They’ll be very sorely missed, and our thoughts are with The Vivienne’s loved ones at this time. So sad.”
Speaking in 2019 before competing in the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, The Vivienne explained their name saying: “I love Vivienne Westwood and when I moved to Liverpool everyone used to call me Vivienne as I was head to toe in Westwood.”
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
