Latest news with #dragqueen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Death of Drag Race star The Vivienne was misadventure, rules coroner
Popular drag queen performer The Vivienne's death was from misadventure after suffering cardio respiratory arrest after taking ketamine, a coroner has ruled. James Lee Williams, 32, was found in the bath by a neighbour at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on Sunday January 5. The last time anyone had contact with them was on the previous Friday evening, when their friend, Bobby Musker, told Warrington Coroner's Court it was evident the entertainer had taken ketamine. The inquest into their death heard that five drug snap bags were found in the property, including in a bedroom draw and a bin in the bathroom. Although the performer had struggled with drugs in the past, Williams' family told the hearing they should not be remembered for their use of ketamine and that drugs did not define the person they were. Friends and family had no worries about Williams' mental health, the hearing was told, and 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, he took ketamine but he did not intend to take his own life.' Williams, who was born in St Asaph, North Wales, was the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and years later admitted having been a drug addict. An officer of the coroner's court told media that Williams' family would like the media to use 'they/them' pronouns for their loved one. The coroner said Williams had probably died in the bath on the Friday evening after taking ketamine, two days before his body was discovered by a neighbour after concerns were raised about a lack of contact. She added: 'However the toxicology results indicate that the concentration found in the post-mortem, despite two days having lapsed, was still fairly high, which suggests he may have reached a fatal level on the Friday, I would describe that concentration as acute. 'He made a name for himself in the performing arts as a drag artiste, known as The Vivienne. 'He was very bold in the pursuit of all his dreams and used his platform to make a difference.' The inquest heard medical records showed Williams had struggled with drug use in the past, including with the use of ketamine, cocaine and alcohol but did stop taking drugs for a number of years and before his death he did not routinely take ketamine. At the time of his death, Williams was in the Christmas break from performing in Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang, finishing in Blackpool on December 30 before the show's tour began again in March. Earlier, Bobby Musker described himself as Williams' best friend, who he had known for 16 years, first working as drag queens in Liverpool. Mr Musker said he was aware his friend used ketamine, but he had gone 'years' not using the drug – but would occasionally take the substance. He said: 'I knew he was not sober. He didn't want to be taking it. He wasn't taking it constantly. 'He struggled with his sobriety but he really tried his hardest not to do it. It was not a constant thing.' Mr Musker said he was the last to see Williams in a video call around 8.30pm on the Friday evening before his body was found on the following Sunday. He added: 'I could tell when he was on it. He mentioned he had been to Liverpool in an Uber. I knew that he had been to get ketamine.' Mr 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 round to his house around lunchtime on Sunday, after concern over a lack of contact. Ms Godbold, told the court she became good friends with Williams after the entertainer moved to the village where she lived and they became near neighbours. She had keys to Williams' home, Swallow Barn, and went with her son Ryan, letting herself in. Ms Godbold broke down in tears as she told the court she found Williams in the bath. 'He just looked like he was sleeping, I ran over to him and put my hand under his head,' she said. 'I kept hold of him, I kept talking to him.' Paramedic Daniel Davies told the hearing he was called to the house but it was quickly apparent there was no pulse and no medical intervention could help. Det Sgt Thomas Philpotts, from Cheshire Police, said he was called to the scene due to the 'unusual' circumstances. When officers searched the house, Mr Philpotts said, 'several' snap bags which he believed had contained drugs were found in the bathroom bin and in a draw. The officer said he concluded there was nothing suspicious and no suggestion of a third-party involvement, and it was likely Williams had died after a medical episode in the bath, possibly brought on by drug use. A report from toxicologist Dr Kerry Taylor said tests showed a relatively high level of ketamine, but not at a level normally causing death. However, the drug can cause drowsiness, seizures and heart stimulation and the concentration may have dissipated over time. Dr David Butterworth, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem, said there was no evidence of drowning. His report said the use of ketamine could have contributed to toxicity and death, and the amounts found in Williams' body could have been higher when he was alive than the levels found after death due to the passage of time. Dr Butterworth concluded: 'This man has died form the effects of cardio respiratory arrest due to the use of ketamine.' His father, Lee Williams, told the hearing: 'He was just an outgoing character who was full of life, he just wanted to make people laugh. 'He achieved his goals. He had future goals he wanted to achieve. Along the way he always wanted to try to help his community, which he did and try to help other drag queens. 'He was always available. He never turned anybody down. He never turned his back on anybody. He never said no. 'He loved the stage, that's where he saw the rest of his career being, on the stage, in the theatre. 'That's what he loved to do.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Drag Race star likely lay dead in bath for two days, says coroner
The Vivienne, acclaimed drag queen and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, likely lay dead in their bath at home in Cheshire for two days before being found on Sunday 5 January, according to a coroner. The death has been a misadventure, caused by cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use. An inquest heard that the performer had taken ketamine on the preceding Friday evening, and five drug snap bags were found at the property. Despite a past struggle with addiction, the coroner stated The Vivienne did not intend to take their own life, and friends and family had no concerns about their mental health. The Vivienne's 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'.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Death of Drag Race star The Vivienne was misadventure, rules coroner
Popular drag queen performer The Vivienne's death was from misadventure after suffering cardio-respiratory arrest after taking ketamine, a coroner has ruled. James Lee Williams, 32, was found in the bath by a neighbour at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on Sunday, January 5th. Advertisement The last time anyone had contact with them was on the previous Friday evening, when their friend, Bobby Musker, told Warrington Coroner's Court it was evident the entertainer had taken ketamine. The inquest into their death heard that five drug snap bags were found in the property, including in a bedroom draw and a bin in the bathroom. Although the performer had struggled with drugs in the past, Williams' family told the hearing they should not be remembered for their use of ketamine and that drugs did not define the person they were. Friends and family had no worries about Williams' mental health, the hearing was told, and the performer was looking forward to future roles on TV and in the theatre, although did 'occasionally' take ketamine. Advertisement 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, he took ketamine but he did not intend to take his own life.' Williams was the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and years later admitted having been a drug addict. An officer of the coroner's court told media that Williams' family would like the media to use 'they/them' pronouns for their loved one. Advertisement
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Why drag queen Pattie Gonia is werking from the mountaintops
It's been a big year for Pattie Gonia: She lip-synched 'Defying Gravity' in front of Cynthia Erivo at the Out 100 party, performed a sold-out show during WorldPride in D.C. and became the first person to deliver a TED talk in full drag. These would be remarkable achievements for any drag queen. But Pattie Gonia is not any drag queen. She's a mustachioed, anti-capitalist, environmentalist activist drag queen.
CBC
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
It's Gay Ol' Times at this Toronto seniors' home
People in drag aren't usually a common sight at a seniors' home. But once a month, drag queen Minhi Wang has been showing up in full makeup, wigs and heels to perform Gay Ol' Times for residents and staff at The Gardens at Kensington Health, a long-term care home in Toronto's downtown. "Thank you for having me back," Minhi Wang told the crowd at The Gardens earlier this week. "This means a lot to me.... I think it just says a lot to have an event like this — to have a drag queen perform regularly in a long-term care facility. I also think it speaks volumes about acceptance." Gay Ol' Times was created in partnership with Minhi Wang as a way to foster inclusion in long-term care, educate residents and staff, and celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Check out Thursday's show below. Before her show started, Minhi Wang also said she sees it like planning for the future "because I hope that when I grow old, there will be a drag queen performing for me. (Minhi Wang is the stage name of David Shih-Ming Yao.) "OK, let's get this party started," said Minhi Wang, who has been performing at The Gardens since 2017 and was a finalist in Season 5 of Canada's Drag Race. (Alex Lupul/CBC) (Alex Lupul/CBC) The event also included remarks from president and CEO Adil Khalfan of Kensington Health, a not-for-profit organization that offers such services as long-term care, hospice care and community care. "The beauty of Kensington has always been about showing up to work, being who you are, looking after the people in this community and allowing them to be who they are," Khalfan said. "Because together we are so much stronger." (Alex Lupul/CBC) Others present for the performance included Anne Howard, a resident at The Gardens since 2016 and a fierce advocate and ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
