The sister of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star The Vivienne, Chanel Williams, has given her first TV interview since the drag queen’s tragic death back in January
Chanel Williams, sister of The Vivienne, has spoken out in a fresh ITV interview about her sibling’s drug battle leading up to their death.
“We didn’t know that struggle that was going on towards the end of his life,” she revealed. “That stigma we need to break down.”
James Lee Williams, formerly crowned Drag Race UK champion, sadly passed away in January. His manager and close pal Simon Jones disclosed earlier this month that James’ death was due to “from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest”.
An Instagram post stated: “James’s family and I feel it is important to say how James tragically died. We hope that by us releasing this information we can raise awareness about the dangers of ongoing ketamine usage and what it can do your body.”
While chatting with Lorraine Kelly on ITV about The Vivienne’s passing, Chanel expressed: “It’s completely devastated us all. It was so unexpected and he loved life. Now, reflecting on everything, you just think, ‘What can you take from this now and what can we do?” reports the Mirror.
She continued: “So as a family we’re really passionate about turning this into something where we can make a difference and we can make a chance and raise awareness around the drug ketamine and the dangers.”
The Vivienne had previously been candid about his battles with drug addiction, but Chanel disclosed that their family was unaware James had relapsed. “He’s gone through long periods of sobriety so for us as a family, we didn’t know that struggle that was clearly going on towards the end of his life,” she expressed.
“He was maintaining, he was on tour, doing so well. He was reading scripts for the future. So I think that stigma we need to break down so people feel about to talk.”
She further stated: “It’s hard if you’ve battled and then gone through that period of sobriety, it’s even harder to come back and say, ‘I’m struggling again.”
Chanel later honoured her sibling as “an iconic trailblazer”, adding: “We remember that and I feel like this now is also James’s legacy as well. I know that he would want this. He struggled and he was open about that, I know that he would want this fight. This is beyond the most devastating time. For me to see my parents struggle as they are, we’ve just got to channel that into hoping that other families don’t feel like this.”
At one point, host Lorraine commended Chanel: “I think it’s wonderful what you’re doing, It’s so hard when you lose someone, doing so well, doing incredible, very, very open about problems in the past with drugs, very, very open about that. I don’t think anybody really realised the struggles.”
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
