Earlier this year, on 5 January 2025, the very sad news broke that RuPaul's Drag Race UK star, The Vivienne, real name James Lee Williams, had passed away at the age of 32. Their family did not immediately comment on the cause of death but have now shared a new statement confirming that Williams died after taking ketamine and experiencing a cardiac arrest.
Ketamine is a licensed anaesthetic but more people are taking the drug recreationally. It can leave users feeling anything from anxious to detached from reality, and may sometimes lead to a 'k-hole', wherein people may feel as though they're having an out of body experience.
During their time on the drag competition, Williams opened up about their struggle with drugs and was praised for their candidness.
Williams' family will now be working with mental health and substance abuse charity Adferiad in the hopes of raising awareness about the risks of the drug. Their sister, Chanel, said of the decision, "Ketamine is an extremely dangerous drug that is becoming more and more prevalent in the UK.
"If we can help raise awareness of the dangers of this drug and help people who may be dealing with ketamine addiction then something positive will come from this complete tragedy."
Simon Jones, who was Williams' manager and close friend, shared further thoughts in an Instagram Story, writing: "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 to your body."
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He continued, "Ketamine usage is on the rise, particularly amongst young people, and I don't think the full dangers of the drug are being discussed."
Last year, Cosmopolitan UK reported that although ketamine has been used (both medically and recreationally) since the 1960s, over the past four years its use as a party drug has exploded. Ketamine use in England and Wales hit a record in 2023 with almost one in 25 16-24 year olds having tried it; that’s four times higher than the levels recorded a decade ago.
The numbers are growing so rapidly that leading addiction psychiatrist, Owen Boyden-Jones has labelled the addiction levels a "national problem."
Donna Chavez, a spokesperson for Adferiad, said of the Williams family: "Their courage in sharing James' story will help raise vital awareness of the devastating impact substance use can have.
"We are seeing a worrying rise in the number of people using ketamine, often unaware of the serious risks it poses to their physical and mental health. By opening conversations and challenging misconceptions, we can help prevent further tragedies and support those in need to find hope and recovery."
WithYou provide a free and confidential webchat service for anyone worried about drug, alcohol or mental health challenges: wearewithyou.org.uk
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
