The Vivienne, winner of the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, died of cardio-respiratory arrest caused by ketamine use, a Cheshire coroner ruled on Monday, concluding the death was the result of misadventure.
James Lee Williams, 32, was found unresponsive in a bathtub at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, Cheshire, on 5 January. A neighbor discovered the performer two days after they were last seen. A friend had noted that it appeared Williams had taken ketamine during their final contact.
An inquest at Warrington coroner’s court heard that five small bags containing ketamine were found throughout the home — in a bedroom drawer and a bathroom bin among them. Though Williams had a history with drug use, their family emphasized during the hearing that this did not define who they were.
“There were no concerns about James’s mental health,” the court was told. “They were looking forward to upcoming TV and theatre projects, although they did ‘occasionally’ use ketamine.”
Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded: “The medical cause of death is cardio-respiratory arrest due to ketamine use. I’m satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that this was a misadventure. James did not intend to take their own life.”
Toxicologist Dr. Kerry Taylor reported that while ketamine was present at relatively high levels, it was not necessarily in a lethal range. However, the drug can trigger dangerous effects, including drowsiness, seizures, and heart stimulation — and the concentration may have decreased by the time of testing.
Williams had previously spoken openly about struggles with addiction and long periods of sobriety. Their sister, Chanel Williams, told BBC Newsnight that the stigma surrounding drug use may have stopped them from seeking help during a relapse.
“They didn’t talk about the hospital stay, or their struggles,” she said. “They were trying to protect us. But if that stigma didn’t exist, maybe they would’ve asked for the help they needed. And maybe the outcome would’ve been different.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Williams’s family announced plans to work with the drug recovery charity Adferiad on future awareness campaigns. Chanel Williams has also called for ketamine to be reclassified from a Class B to a Class A drug, warning that many underestimate its dangers.
The UK government is currently seeking expert guidance as ketamine use continues to rise to record levels.
