The Vivienne’s father has paid a heartbreaking tribute to their son after Drag Race UK winner was honoured with and Icon Award. 

The drag queen, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died suddenly last month at the age of 32.

And at Wednesday’s inaugural Metro Pride Awards, held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, The Vivienne was honoured with the Icon Award for their groundbreaking contribution to drag, queer visibility, and advocacy. 

Their father Lee accepted the award on behalf of The Vivienne, and got choked up as he spoke about his loss. 

‘James loved being a part of the entertainment world and I know he would’ve been happy… I know he would have absolutely loved tonight’s events,’ Lee said. 

‘When he was nominated for the Metro award for rising star last year he was honoured and made up to be here. So whilst it is extremely bittersweet to be here without him, being under this roof meant the world to him. 

The Vivienne’s father has paid a heartbreaking tribute to their son after Drag Race UK winner was honoured with and Icon Award (Seen in 2023)

Their father Lee accepted the award on behalf of The Vivienne, and got choked up as he spoke about his loss

‘Thank you to everyone for your huge love and support to James and an amazing night. Thank you so much.’

The Vivienne was catapulted to international fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.

But amid their rise to fame, Williams also battled with drug addiction – something they openly spoke about in the past.

News of their sudden and unexpected death last month sparked an outpouring of grief, with hundreds of family, friends and fans gathering in their adopted home city Liverpool to release green balloons into the air to The Vivienne’s favourite songs from Wicked.

Last month mourners including Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Kim Woodburn, Jade Thirlwall, Aston Merrygold and Claire Sweeney attended the TV star’s funeral in Denbighshire, North Wales.

The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK were carried into the church ahead of their coffin, family and a host of stars.

Many wore green for the service while Vivienne Westwood badges were worn on the lapels of some of the men’s suits.

Floral tributes in the hearse read ‘Vivienne’, ‘James’ and ‘Son’.

The drag queen, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died suddenly last month at the age of 32 (Seen in 2022)

And at Wednesday’s inaugural Metro Pride Awards, held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, The Vivienne was honoured with the Icon Award for their groundbreaking contribution to drag, queer visibility, and advocacy

A fourth was made up of purple flowers in the shape of a witch’s hat – a nod to their Wizard Of Oz stint.

Born in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Williams grew up watching Lily Savage on TV, citing that as their first exposure to drag.

Describing Wales as a ‘big-fish-in-a-small-pond situation’, the star moved to Liverpool aged 16 to pursue a career as a makeup artist, first working on the beauty counter in Debenhams.

Read More Ru Paul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne makes posthumous TV appearance as emotional fans pay tribute to talented performer after their death aged 32

It was there that they earned their nickname The Vivienne for dressing entirely in Vivienne Westwood, developing their budding pᴀssion for drag while going out with friends in the evenings.

Williams sH๏τ to wider fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

They competed in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022 and finished third on Dancing On Ice in 2023.

During their career, The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series. 

They also starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer in 2022.

The Vivienne was due to be back on tour this month performing in The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of the Childcatcher.

The news of Williams’ death was announced by their publicist Simon Jones, who described Williams as an ‘incredibly loved’ and ‘amazing person’.

Colin Grafton and The Vivienne during a pH๏τo call for Dancing On Ice 2023 (left) and the star with RuPaul at DragCon in London in 2020 (right)

Tributes quickly poured in from co-stars, friends and loved ones.

EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘What devastating news. Sleep easy beautiful soul. Thankyou for being you.’

Paying tribute on Instagram, Oti Mabuse said: ‘Some news hits you harder than others and stops you in your tracks. I absolutely loved The Viv. A beautiful human being, funny, kind, a trailblazer, creative and so warm.’

RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage paid tribute to Williams, writing that their death was ‘heartbreaking’.